Top Ten Players of Each Conference: Big Ten

The college football season is right around the corner. As the season approaches, I will be breaking down the best players of each conference. Each article a new conference will be unveiled and the order will be alphabetical. The players will be ranked 1-10 (1 being the best). Note: This is before the start of the 2012 season, therefore players may get hurt and some will get better or worse. This is simply analyzing the best players in each conference, not which players will get drafted the highest in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Big Ten Conference

1.Denard Robinson-Michigan-Quarterback/Athlete 
Arguably the most versatile athlete in all of college sports, Denard “Shoelace” Robinson has been the face of Michigan since he first stepped on the field in 2009.  Robinson is being talked about as an NFL wide receiver prospect and coach Brady Hoke said there will be many packages this season where D-Rob will in fact be playing WR. Denard Robinson plays his best when he is allowed to play in a backyard football style of offense. Shoelace has the speed of a wide receiver, the elusiveness of a punt returner and the heart of a champion. In 2011, Robinson racked up 2,173 passing yard (1,176 rushing) and  36 total touchdowns. Look for those numbers to improve even more as Robinson becomes a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2012

2.Montee Ball-Wisconsin-Running Back
Many NFL scouts will tell you that Montee Ball is the product of a great offensive line that they have in Wisconsin. While that may be true, there is no denying that he is one of the most efficient running backs in the nation. Averaging nearly six and a half yards per carry, Ball scored a total of 39 touchdowns (33 rushing) placing second on the all-time list behind Barry Sanders. Ball is a patient runner who hides behind his blockers until a hole opens up and he is not easy to bring down either; he’s a scoring machine.

3.Kawann Short-Purdue-Defensive Tackle
Kawann Short might be the #2 Big 10 defensive tackle prospect for the draft but he is the best tackle right now. In 2011, Short corralled 17 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks while finishing the year with 54 total tackles. Listed at 6’3, 310, Short is explosive off of the line and his motor never stops. The Boilermaker is very well conditioned and he benches in the mid-400’s while squatting 600 pounds. The combination of speed, smarts and strength are what makes Short most effective. Purdue isn’t going to be great, but they won’t allow any rushing yards up the middle thanks to the junior defensive tackle.

4.Johnathon Hankins-Ohio State-Defensive Tackle
The Ohio St. Buckeyes have a gem along the defensive line and his name is Johnathon Hankins. At 6’3, 335 Hankins can play all along the defensive line. He is ideally a 3-4 NT but with his strength and repertoire of moves he is versatile. Hankins has incredibly strong hands and gets under the pads of the offensive lineman, allowing him to push/pull them out of the way and get to the quarterback. Although the junior defensive tackle doesn’t fill the stat sheet per say (32 tackles in ’11) he is an obvious force on the field.

5.Le’Veon Bell-Michigan State-Running Back
At 6’2, 238 lbs., Bell is one of the biggest running backs in the whole country. 2012 will be the first year Bell will be a starter but he has done enough damage in the past to make opposing defenses recognize his skillset. At his size, you would think Bell is a power back but he has so many different skills that he can beat you in a variety of ways. The Ohio native is shifty and elusive but will run over defenders if they are in his path. Edwin Baker’s successor is not just great in the run game but he is a wonderful receiving target and will help first year starter Andrew Maxwell in the passing game. Last season Bell hauled in 35 receptions for 267 yards and rushed for 948 yards. Don’t be surprised if Bell racks up over 1,400 total yards in 2012, he is a player to account for when going against Michigan St.

6.Ricky Wagner-Wisconsin-Offensive Tackle 
Offensive tackle Ricky Wagner is one of the main reasons that Montee Ball is ranked number two on this list. Wagner is a monstrous lineman who gets great leverage on opposing defensive pass-rushers. At 6’6, 320, the Wisconsin Badger doesn’t face many defensive players that are big enough to matchup with him. Wagner followed behind Joe Thomas and Gabe Carimi and he hasn’t disappointed. The former walk-on tight end recruit is now a bruising offensive tackle who every quarterback wants on their team.

7.Micah Hyde-Iowa-Cornerback 
There are not many cornerbacks that can shutdown there opponents consistently over a span of 3 years but Micah Hyde is one of them. Hyde is a special corner because he is a press coverage corner who loves to get into the run game make tackles. In 2011, Hyde only had 3 picks but he did have 64 tackles including one game with 10 solo tackles to pair up with two interceptions against Pitt. Hyde is a good-sized corner at 6’1, 180 and quarterbacks stay away from him and blown coverages are a rarity in his game.

8.William Gholston-Michigan State-Defensive End
Back at number six I said that there weren’t many defensive lineman that could matchup with Ricky Wagner, well William Gholston is one of the few. At 6’6. 278, Gholston gets off the ball quick and has great speed to rush off of the edge. With active hands, Gholston can get through blocks and deflect passes but he needs to become more consistent. It is interesting that he is the cousin of Vernon Gholston (draft bust) but we cannot assume William will end up the same way. His tools are great and he shines at time, he should improve greatly in 2012.
9. Taylor Lewan-Michigan-Offensive Tackle
The starting left tackle for the Michigan Wolverines is a very interesting player. Not because of any personal reasons or any flaws in his game but because he has to do a job that no other tackles need to do in the nation; block for Denard Robinson. It is extremely hard for an offensive lineman to go into a play with the QB to his back and not knowing whether he will be pass-protecting or if the QB will take off and then it switches to running up-field and blocking in the run game. Lewan is enormous at 6’7, 302 but he can get up-field and help in the run game. One knock on his game is that he needs to get a bit stronger, but he is mobile for a lineman and can pick up pass rushers when they come off of the edge. Lewan is asked to do a lot, and he hasn’t failed yet.

10.Rex Burkhead-Nebraska-Running Back
Running back Rex Burkhead is a great receiving back for the University of Nebraska and he does a lot of the little things that great football players do. He is tremendous in pass protection which is a lost art in today’s game and he also catches really well out of the backfield. Last season Burkhead rushed for 1,357 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is a stable part in the Nebraska offense, he and Taylor Martinez will run the show down in Lincoln. Going into 2012 Rex Burkhead is a Pre-Season All-Big Ten running back, look for his veteran type play to help him a ton against the defenses in the Big Ten.

Just Missed:
MarQuies Gray-Quarterback/Athlete-Minnesota
Michael Buchanan-Defensive End-Illinois
James Vandenberg-Quarterback-Iowa
Stephen Houston-Running Back-Indiana
Johnny Adams-Cornerback-Michigan St.

2012 NBA Mock Draft 2.0 (Final)

After Anthony Davis, this draft is a crapshoot. Teams will be scrambling up until their pick to pull of trades in order to get the player that they covet most. Dion Waiters, Austin Rivers and Andre Drummond will be players that teams will trade n enormous package for if they slip out of the top 7. Don’t be surprised to see blockbuster deals either, the Rockets are doing everything in their power to bring in Dwight Howard and the Thunder could be looking to deal James Harden because they might not be able to re-sign him next summer.

1.New Orleans Hornets-Anthony Davis-PF-Kentucky
Davis is the clear-cut number one player in this draft. A 6’11 athletic PF who is a natural shot-blocker and can play great help defense beat. Davis was a shooting guard growing up, hit a growth spurt and is now a forward, playing all positions helped him develop a great I.Q. He is fantastic on defense and can knock down shots from the elbow, only 19 and continuing to improve all he needs to do is add weight.

2.Charlotte Bobcats- Thomas Robinson-PF-Kansas
The Bobcats want to trade this pick badly, but the asking price is astronomical. I feel that Charlotte is stubborn and refuses to trade unless it receives two first round picks (which Cleveland might do). Michael Jordan’s team needs production from his players and he will get that with a double-double machine in Thomas Robinson. Robinson is a high energy player who is great on both ends of the court, Charlotte can’t possibly screw this up.

3.Washington Wizards-Bradley Beal-SG-Florida
After going out and getting Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, the biggest hole in the Washington depth chart is a shooting guard. Jordan Crawford has shown decency at times but has been inconsistent thus far in his career. The 19 year-old Beal is a pure shooter who loves to run the fast break. John Wall needs someone to pass to; Beal is a perfect fit.

4.Cleveland Cavaliers-Michael Kidd-Gilchrist-SF-Kentucky
Cleveland seems to be reluctant to trade up to the no. 2 pick but they will get a phenomenal player at no. 4.  MKG is defensively an athletically ready for the NBA and the NCAA champ is versatile. If the Cavalier’s cornerstone, Kyrie Irving, has any say in this and Bradley Beal is gone, he wants MKG. Irving and Kidd-Gilchrist played together on the same high-school team and won a state title. The 6;8 forward loves to run the floor and would be great in transition with last year’s Rookie of the Year.

5.Sacramento Kings- Harrison Barnes-SF-North Carolina
Harrison Barnes is a smooth small forward who has a certain swagger to his game. He can play one-on-one and can catch and shoot. It is looking like the no. 5 could be getting traded to Houston and then again to Orlando. No matter which of those teams end up with this pick, expect Barnes to be selected here. The Kings need a player who can slow the game down and they have a hole at SF with Tyreke Evans refusing to player there.

6.Portland Trailblazers-Damian Lillard-PG-Weber State
Watched him a lot in the 2011-2012 season, watched a lot of tape on him and he is one of my favorite players in the draft. Lillard is a fantastic scorer from the point guard position and that is just what the Blazers need. He has the speed to go coast-to-coast, a killer crossover and can get to the rim. Andre Drummond is a sexy pick here but Portland needs scoring, I don’t feel that Felton is the answer.

7.Golden State Warriors-Perry Jones III-PF-Baylor
Brandon Rush had an amazing year last year shooting the ball, delaying the Warriors need of going out and finding a replacement for Monta Ellis. Perry Jones III is a lanky, lock-down defender who can play all 3 positions along the front court if need be. PJ3 has been known to not “show up” for some games which scared some GMs away, otherwise he would have been a top 5 pick. Marc Jackson is easily one of the league’s most motivating coaches and he will find a philosophy to get the most out of Perry Jones III’s game.

8.Toronto Raptors-Austin Rivers-SG-Duke
The Raptors need three things: A player who can score, someone to bring in fans and a guy who can take over a game-Austin Rivers is all of that. Although I am not a huge Rivers fan, I do admit that he is a pretty darn good player given the circumstance that he is the go-to guy on a team. The Duke freshman showed he was cold-blooded late in games and that he could score against double teams and win games by himself. The Raptors roster would not look bad next year if they land Rivers: Calderon/Nash (rumored), Rivers, Derozan, Bargnani, Valanciunas (last year’s top pick).

9.Detroit Pistons-Dion Waiters-SG-Syracuse
After trading away Ben Gordon, Detroit has a gaping hole at shooting guard. Dion Waiters is a player who can come in, play defense, draw fouls and can get to the rim. Waiters is explosive, strong and extremely quick with his cuts; he needs to work on his jumpshot though. He is a bit over-hyped for me but a lot of teams like him. The former Syracuse star has drawn comparisons to Dwayne Wade and if he becomes a fraction of Wade it will make Brandon Knight happy.

10.New Orleans Hornets (from Minn)-Jeremy Lamb-SG-Connecticut
It doesn’t look like Eric Gordon is going to be re-signing with New Orleans leaving a need for a scorer. The Hornets will go to my favorite player in the draft. Jeremy Lamb. The sophomore out  of UCONN is a player who shares the rock, defends and can score in a variety of ways. If he would have stayed another year he would have been a top 3 pick without a doubt. Still developing, Lamb is terrific at shooting off the screen and also pull-up and shoot. Jeremy Lamb is the silent assassin and is the ultimate team player.

11.Portland Trailblazers-Andre Drummond-C-Connecticut
Andre Drummond is the real wild card of this year’s draft. He poses the biggest upside and the biggest bust as many big men from UCONN have in the past (Okafor & Thabeet). Since the collegiate season has ended, Drummond has lost 20 lbs. and now moves quicker than ever. With his premier shot-blocking abilities and amazing athleticism he could get picked as high as number 5. Lacking an offensive game hurts his stock a little bit but players can develop a shot, a center that can run the floor is what every team wants nowadays. Portland fills their top two needs with these picks and have the best draft of any team in the last 10 years if they get Lillard and Drummond.

12.Houston Rockets (from Mil)-Tyler Zeller-C-North Carolina
The Rockets are doing everything in their power to draft Dwight Howard. If that fails, they could be taking the second best center in the draft in Tyler Zeller. Zeller is a mature player (4 years at UNC) and is NBA ready. He is not as athletic as Drummond or Leonard but is certain a better all-around player who will contribute on both offense and defense. The Rockets need a big man, especially after trading away Dalembert.

13.Phoenix Suns-Terrence Ross-SG-Washington
The Suns’ front office should be working on their 2013 draft because they will be picking which will most likely be center Nerlens Noel. There are a ton of holes on this roster, therefore the Suns need to draft a player who can carry a team. Terrence Ross is a great shooter who dominated the Pac-12, averaging 16.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore. The 6’6 guard is a bit under the radar right now, but could do a lot for the Phoenix franchise.

14.Milwaukee Bucks (from Hou)-Meyers Leonard-C-Illinois
After trading away Andrew Bogut, the Bucks are in search of their next center. Coming out as a freshman, Leonard has a lot of question marks, but also a lot of buzz. There is no question that he is a great athlete and will fit with the Bucks nicely, but he is a high maintenance player who is a big project moving forward. At 7’1, Leonard shows great athleticism by being able to run up and down the court on fast breaks but he fails to be consistent on defense. The hype for Leonard is unreal, but he will need to prove himself by playing his heart out. Milwaukee fans will fall in love with Leonard immediately if drafted there.

15.Philadelphia 76ers-John Henson-PF-North Carolina
Henson is the player with the highest reward in the 2012 NBA Draft. The UNC power forward is 6’10 with the quickness of a shooting guard and smarts of a point guard. With a long wingspan, Henson is a great shot blocker and on offense he has a hook shot that is automatic. The Sixers could lose Elton Brand do to the amnesty clause. Henson is an upgrade on defense and is a great fit with the Sixers’ athleticism. I don’t think Henson will fall this far, but who knows with the possible reaches on all of the shooting guards.

16.Houston Rockets-Moe Harkless-SF-St. John’s
If Houston keeps any of their first round picks it will be used on the Big East’s Rookie of the Year. Moe Harkless showed great upside after posting great numbers in the Big East as a freshman. Harkless is a 6’9 small forward who shows power when driving but can also create his own shot. Great dribbling skills, getting to the rim, shooting over defenders and running the floor are all great features of his game. He has a lot of growing to do, especially on the defensive side, but at only 19 the potential is unreal.

17.Dallas Mavericks-Kendall Marshall-PG-North Carolina
Jason Kidd is a free agent and even if he goes back to Dallas it won’t be for long.  This year’s draft is short on point guards and Dallas can’t pass one up. Marshall is the best assist-man in the draft and his court vision is unbelievable. Dallas is a team that likes to shoot a lot and Marshall will keep everyone on the squad happy.

18.Houston Rockets (from Minn)-Arnett Moultrie-PF-Mississippi St.
Moultrie is an athlete who excelled at the combine and drew interest from a ton of teams. A great size at 6’11, 223, he is a great defender but needs to work on his offensive game. It would be nice to see him develop some low post moves but Moultrie is going in the first round for his defensive play.

19.Orlando Magic-Terrence Jones-PF-Kentucky
Orlando doesn’t really know what it wants to do right now between having an unhappy superstar center and a bunch of free agents (Jameer Nelson & Ryan Anderson). Terrence Jones has had a bit of an attitude problem in the past but has shown maturity after playing two years with Coach Calipari. At 6’10 Jones could play either small forward or power forward. Speed, power and grind are all adjectives that come up when talking about this kid. Once Jones gets in the zone there is no stopping him. The Magic need help rebounding if there is no Dwight and Jones is great on the offensive glass. I don’t see him sliding past 19.

20.Denver Nuggets-Tony Wroten Jr.-PG-Washington
An 18-year-old, 6’6 point guard whose athleticism is off the charts?- Sign me up. I saw a lot of Tony Wroten through recruiting and skills competitions and he is going to be something special. Not a great shooter…yet, but his ability to find open teammates is unreal. You instantly fall in love with him when you watch him play, the past couple years Denver has been drafting pure athletes; Wroten foots the bill. Not to mention, Andre Miller’s contract is expiring.

21.Boston Celtics-Royce White-SF/PF-Iowa State
With the Big 3 (or what is left of it) aging and breaking down, the Celtics need playmakers for Rondo to dish to. Royce White is a point forward who loves to have the ball and can muscle his way to the basket. He doesn’t necessarily need to start right away with Jeff Green and Paul Pierce still in the lineup, which will allow White to figure out if he is a power forward or a small forward. He averaged 13.1 points per game 9.2 rebounds per game and 5.1 assists per game at Iowa State. This pick makes too much sense for the Celtics, especially if Lamb, Waiters and Rivers are all gone. 

22.Boston Celtics-Jared Sullinger-PF-Ohio State
Sullinger is by far the scariest player in the draft. I fear that the Celtics fall into this trap and end up selecting the injury prone question mark. Sullinger is 6’9 and plays too small to be a power forward but too slow to be a small forward. His play resembles Glen “Big Baby” Davis who the Celtics selected several years ago. I don’t think Sullinger will be in the league long between his back problems and his lack off skills but I could be wrong. Would have been a lottery pick a year ago, don’t be surprised if he slides to the second round.

23.Atlanta Hawks-Marquis Teague-PG-Kentucky
With all of the top big men off of the board the Hawks look to add depth to their back court. What better way of doing that is there than drafting your point guards little brother. Teague is only going in the first round via lack of PG play in the draft but he will add depth to the backcourt of the Hawks. Teague is speedy and has deceptively active hands on defense, could grow into a solid point guard.

24.Cleveland Cavaliers-Fab Melo-C-Syracuse
The Cleveland frontcourt is very thin and is filled with underperforming forwards. Anderson Varejao is potenatiallya 15 and 10 guy but they need to improve on defense. The controversial seven-footer out of Syracuse will help the Cavs right away. Fab Melo is a skilled shot blocker and would produce coming off of the bench.

25.Memphis Grizzlies-Evan Fournier-SG-France
O.J. Mayo is a free agent and Tony Allen is the offensive equivalent to a vocational high school player’s. Evan Fournier is a crafty shooting guard who can shoot the three ball consistently. Memphis is known for drafting foreign players and there is a risk they run with drafting a player that could possibly stay in France but they can’t pass up on the 6’7 shooting guard in my opinion.

26.Indiana Pacers-Will Barton-SG-Memphis
Will Barton is an athletic shooting guard who can score in a variety of ways. Averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds a game at Memphis, Barton would have a chance to take Paul George’s starting position. A lanky defender who can force turnovers is a great value this late in the first round.

27.Miami Heat-Festus Ezeli-C-Vanderbilt
The Miami heat are very old on the frontlines (Howard & Anthony) and have seen little growth in Dexter Pittman. The senior out of Vanderbilt makes perfect sense. Not only is the former Commodore a get defender but he does not need the ball on offense, allowing the big 3 to do their thing. Although this may not be a sexy pick for South Beach, it could be the right one.

28.Oklahoma City Thunder-Andrew Nicholson-PF-St. Bonaventure
Throughout the whole 2012 season the Thunder failed to get offense from big men. Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka averaged 12 points per game…combined. Andrew Nicholson opened eyes when the Bonnies made it to the NCAA tournament. Nicholson is a versatile power forward who can shoot as well as finish around the hoop. The 6’10 forward has a smooth shot and plays with his heart all game long.

29.Chicago Bulls-John Jenkins-SG-Vanderbilt
What the Bulls really need is a healthy Derrick Rose. Other than that, they could use a guy who can stretch the floor and knock down threes. Rip Hamilton didn’t produce like the Bulls had hoped and Ronnie Brewer is not an offensive player. John Jenkins is the best shooter in this years draft and is lethal if left open. The sharpshooter averaged close to four three-pointers a game while shooting 44%.

30.Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio)-Draymond Green-F-Michigan St.
Green is one of the best players in college basketball history and he will be one of the best pleasant surprises in the NBA. With a similar build to Paul Pierce, Green is a fantastic rebounded and has the basketball I.Q. of most NBA coaches. Green is a stat stuffer and is a the type of player that Golden State needs….mature. He is not fast but his footwork gets him in the perfect position to make plays, the Warriors need to bulk up, and no better player to draft at this spot than the 2012 Big 10 Player of the Year. 

Notable 2^nd Round Picks 

31.Charlotte Bobcats-Kim English-SG-Missouri

34.Cleveland Cavaliers-Doron Lamb–SG Kentucky

37.Toronto Raptors-Tyshawn Taylor-Combo Guard-Kansas

46.New Orleans Hornets-Scott Machado-PG-Iona (biggest steal of draft)

47.Utah Jazz-Robbie Hummel-SF -Purdue

2012 NBA Mock Draft

The NBA draft is incredibly difficult to predict, not only because of the trade but because teams will draft players at positions that they don’t necessarily have a need and also because one player will get drafted very early on potential with no prior production. On June 28, expect there to be many trades, some blockbusters and others trading players just after drafting them. Tyreke Evans, Luol Deng and Dwight Howard have all been players talked about in trade talks, expect at least one of those players to be packing their bags.

1.New Orleans Hornets-Anthony Davis-Power Forward-Kentucky
Davis is the clear-cut number one player in this draft. A 6’11 athletic PF who is a natural shot-blocker and can play great help defense beat. Davis was a shooting guard growing up, hit a growth spurt and is now a forward, playing all positions helped him develop a great I.Q. He is fantastic on defense and can knock down shots from the elbow, only 19 and continuing to improve all he needs to do is add weight.

2.Charlotte Bobcats-Michael Kidd-Gilchrist-Kentucky
I do not think the Bobcats will be picking at this spot by the time the draft starts. They need to get more picks in order to increase the all-around talent. However if they end up with this pick, MKG is the player they need to take. He is a 6’8 small forward who is great on the fast break and is willing to rebound. Great ball-handling skills and can defend multiple positions. Charlotte got a scorer in the Ben Gordon trade who is only 29 years-old, they can find another shooter in free agency.

3.Washington Wizards-Bradley Beal-Shooting Guard-Florida
After going out and getting Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, the biggest hole in the Washington depth chart is a shooting guard. Jordan Crawford has shown decency at times but has been inconsistent thus far in his career. The 19 year-old Beal is a pure shooter who loves to run the fast break. John Wall needs someone to pass to; Beal is a perfect fit.

4.Cleveland Cavaliers-Harrison Barnes-Small Forward-North Carolina
Harrison Barnes is a smooth small forward who has a certain swagger to his game. He can play one-on-one and can catch and shoot, Cleveland needs to surround Kyrie Irving with talent. Dan Gilbert has talked about trading up to the #2 spot but the asking price is too high right now. If Cleveland gets desperate look for them to trade to #2 for Bradley Beal, but Harrison Barnes is a great pick as well.

5.Sacramento Kings-Thomas Robinson-Power Forward-Kansas
This is clearly a production pick. Thomas Robinson had insane numbers at Kansas and Sacramento needs bigs who are going to produce. Jason Thompson was drafted high several years ago and has shown bright spots but is not what they’d thought. The former Jayhawk has a veteran’s mentality and is a great guy off of the court. Many teams have been inquiring about Tyreke Evans and the #5 pick, if nothing changes, look for Robinson and Cousins to both average double-doubles next season.

6.Portland Trailblazers-Damian Lillard-Point Guard-Weber State
Watched him a lot in the 2011-2012 season, watched a lot of tape on him and he is easily my favorite player in the draft. Lillard is a fantastic scorer from the point guard position and that is just what the Blazers need. He has the speed to go coast-to-coast, a killer crossover and can get to the rim. Andre Drummond is a sexy pick here but Portland needs scoring, I don’t feel that Felton is the answer. 

7.Golden State Warriors-Perry Jones III-Power Forward-Baylor
Brandon Rush had an amazing year last year shooting the ball, delaying the Warriors need to go out and finding a replacement for Monta Ellis. Perry Jones III is a lanky, lock-down defender who can play all 3 positions along the front court if need be. PJ3 has been known to not “show up” for some games which scared some GMs away, otherwise he would have been a top 5 pick. Marc Jackson is easily one of the league’s most motivating coaches and he will find a philosophy to get the most out of Perry Jones III’s game.

8.Toronto Raptors-Andre Drummond-Center-Connecticut
Finally, the Toronto Raptors make an exceptional draft selection. Between Toronto and Portland both Drummond and Lillard will be gone, honestly, you can put either player on either team because whoever Portland doesn’t take Toronto will. Bargnani will be able to go out to the 4 (if he is ever healthy again) and Drummond will be the defensive stud they need. Many scouts are pegging Waiters to the Raptors because of a “promise”, I don’t buy that, this is a business. The Raptors have Derozan at the 2, they can find scorers other ways than a lottery pick.

9.Detroit Pistons-Dion Waiters-Shooting Guard-Syracuse
After trading away Ben Gordon, Detroit has a gaping hole at shooting guard. Dion Waiters is a player who can come in, play defense, draw fouls and can get to the rim. The former Syracuse star has drawn comparisons to Dwayne Wade and if he becomes a fraction of Wade it will make Brandon Knight happy. I personally like Waiters as a sixth-man; someone who I can bring in off the bench and expect high-energy defense and to fire his team up

10.New Orleans Hornets (via Minn)-Jeremy Lamb-Shooting Guard-Connecticut
It doesn’t look like Eric Gordon is going to be re-signing with New Orleans leaving a need for a scorer. After assessing their defensive issues with the first pick the Hornets need to find a player that will share the ball but also take over when it is time to. If Lamb would have stayed another year he would have been a top 3 pick without a doubt. Still developing, Lamb is terrific at shooting off the screen and also pull-up and shoot. He will be a better pro than Austin Rivers.

11.Portland Trailblazers-Tyler Zeller-Center-North Carolina
There are enough big men early on in the draft that allows Portland to take a guard with their first pick and still feel good about filling a hole at center. Zeller is not a pretty player but he gets the job done. A seven-footer that doesn’t foul and is the commander of the defense. The maturity level of Zeller is off the charts and he will pull down offensive rebounds for the Blazers.

12.Milwaukee Bucks-Meyers Leonard-Center-Illinois
A team that is searching for a center after trading away Bogut, the Bucks will be ecstatic if Meyers Leonard falls to them. He does need work, but he is 7’1 and gives it everything he’s got on the court. The fans will instantly fall in love with Leonard’s passion and willingness to learn.

13.Phoenix Suns-Austin Rivers-Shooting Guard-Duke
The Suns’ front office should be working on their 2013 draft because they will be picking which will most likely be center Nerlens Noel. In 2012 they need to select the best player available, which will be Austin Rivers. As a 6’5 freshman he proved he could hit the big shot and takeover a game while at Duke. Only 19 years-old with room to grow, Rivers can make players and score from anywhere on the court. This is a win-win for Phoenix because they are getting a guy who can score and a player that will sell tickets for them.

14.Houston Rockets-Terrence Ross-Shooting Guard-Washington
The Rockets are working on multiple blockbuster trades as we speak so don’t be shocked if they end up with zero first round picks by the time the NBA kicks off. They have been deep in trade talks with Orlando involving Dwight Howard but if somehow the Rockets end up keeping this pick they will take Terrence Ross. Ross is a scorer who can slash and draw double teams. Kevin Martin has said he doesn’t want to play for Houston so Ross would fit in immediately. He is a streaky shooter but he is very confident when he’s on offense, just what Houston needs.

15.Philadelphia 76ers-John Henson-Power Forward-North Carolina
Henson is the player with the highest reward in the 2012 NBA Draft. The UNC power forward is 6’10 with the quickness of a shooting guard and smarts of a point guard. With a long wingspan, Henson is a great shot blocker and on offense he has a hook shot that is automatic. The Sixers could lose Elton Brand do to the amnesty clause. Henson is an upgrade on defense and is a great fit with the Sixers’ athleticism. 

16.Houston Rockets-Arnett Moultrie-Power Forward-Mississippi State
Moultrie is an athlete who excelled at the combine and drew interest from a ton of teams. A great size at 6’11, 223, he is a great defender but needs to work on his offensive game. It would be nice to see him develop some low post moves but Moultrie is going in the first round for his defensive play.

17.Dallas Mavericks-Kendall Marshall-Point Guard-North Carolina
Jason Kidd is a free agent and even if he goes back to Dallas it won’t be for long.  This year’s draft is short on point guards and Dallas can’t pass one up. Marshall is the best assist-man in the draft and his court vision is unbelievable. Dallas is a team that likes to shoot a lot and Marshall will keep everyone on the squad happy.

18.Houston Rockets (from Minn) Moe Harkless-Small Forward-St. John’s
If Houston keeps any of their first round picks it will be used on the Big East’s Rookie of the Year. Moe Harkless showed great upside after posting great numbers in the Big East as a freshman. Harkless is a 6’9 small forward who shows power when driving but can also create his own shot. Great dribbling skills, getting to the rim, shooting over defenders and running the floor are all great features of his game. He has a lot of growing to do, especially on the defensive side, but at only 19 the potential is unreal.

19.Orlando Magic-Terrence Jones-Power Forward-Kentucky
Orlando doesn’t really know what it wants to do right now between having an unhappy superstar center and a bunch of free agents (Jameer Nelson & Ryan Anderson). Terrence Jones has had a bit of an attitude problem in the past but has shown maturity after playing two years with Coach Calipari. At 6’10 Jones could play either small forward or power forward. Speed, power and grind are all adjectives that come up when talking about this kid. Once Jones gets in the zone there is no stopping him. The Magic need help rebounding if there is no Dwight and Jones is great on the offensive glass. I don’t see him sliding past 19.

20.Denver Nuggets-Tony Wroten Jr.-Point Guard-Washington
An 18-year-old, 6’6 point guard whose athleticism is off the charts?- Sign me up. I saw a lot of Tony Wroten through recruiting and skills competitions and he is going to be something special. Not a great shooter…yet, but his ability to find open teammates is unreal. You instantly fall in love with him when you watch him play, the past couple years Denver has been drafting pure athletes; Wroten foots the bill. Not to mention, Andre Miller’s contract is expiring.

21.Boston Celtics-Royce White-Power Forward-Iowa State
With the Big 3 (or what is left of it) aging and breaking down, the Celtics need playmakers for Rondo to dish to. Royce White is a point forward who loves to have the ball and can muscle his way to the basket. He doesn’t necessarily need to start right away with Jeff Green and Paul Pierce still in the lineup, which will allow White to figure out if he is a power forward or a small forward. He averaged 13.1 points per game 9.2 rebounds per game and 5.1 assists per game at Iowa State. This pick makes too much sense for the Celtics, especially if Lamb, Waiters and Rivers are all gone.

22.Boston Celtics-Jared Sullinger-Power Forward-Ohio State
Sullinger is by far the scariest player in the draft. I fear that the Celtics fall into this trap and end up selecting the injury prone question mark. Sullinger is 6’9 and plays too small to be a power forward but too slow to be a small forward. His play resembles Glen “Big Baby” Davis who the Celtics selected several years ago. I don’t think Sullinger will be in the league long between his back problems and his lack off skills but I could be wrong. Would have been a lottery pick a year ago, don’t be surprised if he slides to the second round.

23.Atlanta Hawks-Marquis Teague-Point Guard-Kentucky
With all of the top big men off of the board the Hawks look to add depth to their back court. What better way of doing that is there than drafting your point guards little brother. Teague is only going in the first round via lack of PG play in the draft but he will add depth to the backcourt of the Hawks. Teague is speedy and has deceptively active hands on defense, could grow into a solid point guard.

24.Cleveland Cavaliers-Fab Melo-Center-Syracuse
The Cleveland frontcourt is very thin and is filled with underperforming forwards. Anderson Varejao is potenatiallya 15 and 10 guy but they need to improve on defense. The controversial seven-footer out of Syracuse will help the Cavs right away. Fab Melo is a skilled shot blocker and would produce coming off of the bench.

25.Memphis Grizzlies-Evan Fournier-France
O.J. Mayo is a free agent and Tony Allen is the offensive equivalent to a vocational high school player’s. Evan Fournier is a crafty shooting guard who can shoot the three ball consistently. Memphis is known for drafting foreign players and there is a risk they run with drafting a player that could possibly stay in France but they can’t pass up on the 6’7 shooting guard in my opinion.

26.Indiana Pacers-Will Barton-Shooting Guard-Memphis
Will Barton is an athletic shooting guard who can score in a variety of ways. Averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds a game at Memphis, Barton would have a chance to take Paul George’s starting position. A lanky defender who can force turnovers is a great value this late in the first round.

27.Miami Heat-Draymond Green-Small Forward-Michigan State
The Heat need players who won’t be dissatisfied sitting behind the big 3. Draymond Green is an incredibly intelligent player who knows what his role is. I like to compare him to Paul Pierce, although he does not shoot as well as him, he is a husky small forward who has mastered the up-fake and has great footwork. The 2012 Big Ten Player of the Year does whatever it takes to win and had a decorated career at MSU.

28.Oklahoma City Thunder-Andrew Nicholson-Power Forward-St. Bonaventure
Throughout the whole 2012 season the Thunder failed to get offense from big men. Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka averaged 12 points per game…combined. Andrew Nicholson opened eyes when the Bonnies made it to the NCAA tournament. Nicholson is a versatile power forward who can shoot as well as finish around the hoop. The 6’10 forward has a smooth shot and plays with his heart all game long.

29.Chicago Bulls-John Jenkins-Shooting Guard-Vanderbilt
What the Bulls really need is a healthy Derrick Rose. Other than that, they could use a guy who can stretch the floor and knock down threes. Rip Hamilton didn’t produce like the Bulls had hoped and Ronnie Brewer is not an offensive player. John Jenkins is the best shooter in this years draft and is lethal if left open. The sharpshooter averaged close to four three-pointers a game while shooting 44%.

Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio)-Doron Lamb-Shooting Guard-Kentucky
The Warriors can’t put all their eggs into one basket and expect Brandon Rush to put up the same numbers he did last year. Doron Lamb is a sniper from beyond the arc and will provide athleticism as well as efficiency. The first round of the draft will end the way it started, with a Kentucky player getting selected.

Notable 2^nd Round Picks

31.Charlotte Bobcats-Kim English-Shooting Guard-Missouri

34.Cleveland Cavaliers-Jae Crowder-Small Forward-Marquette

37. Toronto Raptors-Tyshawn Taylor-Combo Guard-Kansas

46.New Orleans Hornets-Scott Machado-Point Guard-Iona (Biggest steal of draft)

47.Utah Jazz-Robbie Hummel-Small Forward-Purdue

The Forgotten Dream Team Member

In light of the Dream Team documentary, we will take a closer look at the 12th spot on the squad, a player no one had talked about; Christian Laettner. Before the stars aligned for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, the summer games were about letting amateur athletes nd represent their country. After a controversial rivalry with the U.S.S.R., FIBA was encouraging countries to put their best athletes, whether it was professional or amateur on the Olympic roster. The United States assembled a team of legends but they left one spot on the team for an amateur, that man was Christian Laettner.

Duke’s Christian Laettner was coming off back-to-back national championships and was one of the best centers at the college level. He had a great balance of speed, size, poise, intelligence and  he could hit a jump shot. Laettner is remembered for his shot against Kentucky in the National Championship. It was a turnaround jumper with less that 2 seconds left to win the title. Laettner had little-to-no impact on the dream team and he is the forgotten one when this team was talked about. Laettner was great in college, don’t get me wrong, he was still deserving of the “amateur” spot on this team, but just think of who else could have been on it at this time…

Alonzo Mourning was arguably the best collegiate center from 1988-1992. ‘Zo was one of the first players to score 2,000 points and record 1,000 rebounds in college basketball while at Georgetown and he was the first player to tally 1,000 career blocks. Alonzo played like a vereran even though he was very young, he could post up and he was a polished free-throw shooter and later became one of the best defensive NBA players of all time. A lanky 6’10 player with his anticipation was lethal on the defensive end and he could have possible helped the United States hold their opponents to even fewer than what they did.

In 1992 Shaquille O’neal was still at LSU. In college, Shaq was electric and monstrous and easily would have created a matchup nightmare for any country in the U.S.A.’s path. The future legends still would have had the majority of the playing time but Shaq could have relieved Barkley, Malone and Ewing on the blocks and would have not only brought personality and swag but strength and power. It would have been great to see Stockton throw alley-oops to the Shaqtus or watching him dunk on a whole team of Angolans.

A player that developed the name Big Shot Rob is hard to pass up on the list of people that could have replaced Laettner. Horry was a four-year player at the University of Alabama and was a great shooter for a guy who stood in at 6 feet 10 inches. Horry could knock down shots from anywhere on the floor and performed best when the spotlight was on him. At his size he could have played virtually any position for the National Team and his defensive skills would have assured him playing time.

There is nothing we can to about the Dream Team now but it is absurd that we could even think about replacing someone on that team. 11 of these players would become Hall-of-Famers and Christian Laettner (not in HOF) still had one of the greatest careers in college basketball to this date. No story will ever come close to the one of the Dream Team and this is one of the greatest events in sports. Thank you to Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, David Robinson, Chris Mullin, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing and Christian Laettner for the greatest team and ever assembled in sports.

Who Improved the Most Over NFL Draft Weekend?

 

This passed weekend was the NFL draft. The draft is where teams build dynasties and stock up on draft picks for years to come. You will not know which teams had a successful draft for a few years because the players selected need a big enough sample size to produce. All that we can do until then is predict which teams we think have improved the NFL Draft.

Cincinnati Bengals

Last year the Bengals showed that draft picks can carry your team right away by selecting A.J. Green and Andy Dalton then going on to make the playoffs. Cincinnati went into this draft knowing what they had to do and they drafted great football players and guys that fit their system. The Bengals ended up two first round selections and used one on each side of the ball. With the 17^th overall pick the Bengals chose CB Dre Kirkpatrick out of Alabama. Kirkpatrick is a great zone corner who will step up and make tackles in the run game as well. Cincinnati has Leon Hall coming off injury and they brought in Terrence Newman but they need to get younger at that position and Kirkpatrick is a guy that can immediately step in and have an impact. With their second first round selection (27 overall) Cincy chose G Kevin Zeitler out of Wisconsin. Zeitler is a hard-nosed offensive lineman that is terrific in the run game and he can take on virtually any interior rusher. Zeitler is a great fit for Cincy because they lost G Shaun Livings in free agency and they managed to bring in smash-mouth running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. After making a splash in the first round, Cincinnati continued to have a successful draft. In the second round the Cardiac Cats selected DT Devon Still, he is an ideal NT in a 3-4 but they feel he can be a great DT in a 4-3 and he was one of the top players available. In the third round Mohamed Sanu was selected, a possession Wr out of Rutgers that will lineup opposite of A.J. Green. Sanu is not a speedster but he won’t have many drops and he is physical. The Bengals continued with this defense/offense draft pattern throughout this whole draft by selecting Brandon Thompson (DT-Clemson), Orson Charles (TE-Georgia), Shaun Prater (CB-Iowa), Marvin Jones (WR-Cal), George Iloka (S-Boise St.) and Dan “Boom” Herron (RB-Ohio St.). The Bengals had a ton of steals throughout this draft; Charles in the 4^th and Iolka in the 5^th are the two most notable. Orson Charles will not compete against Gresham for the starting TE spot but he is a gifted athlete that can come in on certain packages and stretch the defense. After cutting Chris Crocker, the Bengals created a whole at the safety position and managed to wait on George Iolka who many draft experts had him ranked as a top-3 safety. Iolka fits the Cincy defense by being able to go downfield and make plays but he can also step up in the run game and will make plays in the backfield. Even after the draft Mike Brown and the Bengals weren’t done. Right after the draft management went to work and signed ILB Vontaze Burfict (Arizona St.) who is one of the meanest guys in the game and WR Kashif Moore (Uconn). These are both guys that are very well capable of making the 53 man roster, Burfict has all the talent in the world, he just needs to get his head on straight. The Bengals went out and drafted a bunch of guys that are ready to start next year, this team is going to be scary a couple years down the road.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams were one of the worst teams last season but they used their #2 overall draft pick to their advantage and kept trading to create more picks. First the Rams traded out of their #2 spot with the Redskins receiving Washington’s first and second round picks for 2012 and first round picks for 2013 and 2014 as well. During the draft, St. Louis was sitting with the #6 pick and decided to trade back again; they ended up with the 14^th pick and late round picks. When the Rams were finally on the clock, they selected DT Michael Brockers out of LSU; a guy that Jeff Fisher said they had contemplated taking at number six. Fisher is a defensive-minded coach and he wants to solidify that side of the ball just like he did in his tenure with Tennessee. Brockers is a young, raw DT that Fisher could turn into a pro-bowler. Brockers was their top pick but they were not done on defense. In the second round the Rams took UNA cornerback Janoris Jenkins. Jenkins is a top-10 talent in this year’s draft class but brings a ton of baggage to the team. Jeff Fisher has worked through these problems before but is Jenkins going to be a Cortland Finnegan or another Pacman Jones? In the third round the Rams went out and took another CB, Trumaine Johnson, Montana. It was surprising to see Johnson fall to the third round because there are a bunch of teams that were looking for CB’s. Getting Johnson 65^th overall is a steal and Jeff Fisher already know how he plays not just form film but from his son; Fisher’s son played on the Montana team with Johnson. At 6’2 with great tackle skills, Johnson provides versatility to the Rams, they can choose to play him at CB or even move him back to FS. The Rams weren’t just making an impact on the defensive side of the ball though. With their second selection (33^rd overall) they selected Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian St. Sam Bradford has potential to be a fantastic QB but he needs weapons; Quick is 6’4 with huge hands and is electric after the catch. Quick is that big, sure-handed target that Bradford has been looking for. After the Quick pick, the Rams went out and selected slot WR Chris Givens out of Wake Forest in the 4^th round (96^th overall), they also took: OG, Rakevious Watkins (South Carolina) in the 5^th round (150^th overall) and RB Isaiah Pead in the 2^nd round (50^th overall) out of Cincinnati. The Rams went out and drafted a bunch of playmakers on offense, Pead is the type of RB that Fisher likes (great hands & quick burst of speed), he will be great to compliment Steven Jackson. St. Louis finished out their draft by selecting Greg Zuerlein (K-Missouri Western), Aaron Brown (OLB-Hawaii) and Daryl Richardson (RB-Abilene Christian) all in the 7th round.  They still have holes on their roster, but they have selected players that fit their system and athletes that will give them a chance to compete right away.

Honorable Mention-Indianapolis Colts

The Colts were horrendous last year and losing Peyton Manning was insult to injury for the Indy fans. With the first overall pick in the 2012 draft the Colts selected Andrew Luck who should be able to fill the void for Peyton Manning one day. Drafting a young QB can be scary so you need to try to ease him into the role and surround him with weapons. Like they say in the NFL, a tight end is a QB’s best friend. In the second and third rounds the Colts went out and addressed their losses of Dallas Clark and Jacob Tamme by taking Coby Fleener (Stanford) and Dwayne Allen (Clemson). Fleener was heavily used by Mr. Luck at Stanford and he has a great repertoire of tools to offer the Indy offense. Fleener is very similar to Greg Olson, he is tall, fast, can run any route and can make catches in traffic. Dwayne Allen was selected in the third round and he offers a different skill set. Allen will have an immediate impact in the blocking game (Fleener’s weakness) and he can also release and become a security-type receiver for Luck. With the Colts’ fourth selection (3^rd round) they stayed on the offensive side of the ball and selected T.Y. Hilton (Florida International). Hilton is a slot receiver that can flat-out fly and create separation. Look for him to be used on bubble screens and a lot of crossing routes this year, he has big-play potential. The fifth round is where Ryan Grigson selected his first defensive player, Josh Chapman (DT/NT-Alabama). If Chapman had not missed the season due to a knee injury he could have gone in the first round. Chapman will help on the defensive line and take on blockers, allowing Mathis and Freeney to get to the quarterback.  In the fifth round Vick Ballard would become the newest Colt. Ballard is a tough RB out of Miss. St. who will provide diversity to a Colts offense. He can run between the tackles and he can also go out and make some catches; he should be a nice compliment to Donald Brown. The Colts also chose LaVon Brazill (WR-Ohio) in the 6^th and had three 7^th round picks: Jusin Anderson (G-Georgia), Tim Fugger (DE- Vanderbilt) and Chandler Harnish (QB-Northern Illinois). After the draft the Colts also scrambled to get some of the top undrafted free agents. They made two key signings in Griff Whalen (WR-Stanford) and Micah Pellerin (CB-Hampton). Griff Whalen is another guy who will make Luck comfortable because he is familiar with Whalen; this was Luck’s go-to-guy on third down in college. Micah Pellerin fills a need for the Colts and has great potential. Pellerin is 6’0 with fluent hips and plays tight coverage. The Colts will still be picking top 10 next year but they have a bright future.

Other Notable Draft Winners

Pittsburgh Steelers
1 (24)-David DeCastro-G-Stanford
2 (56)-Mike Adams-OT-Ohio State
3 (86)-Sean Spence-ILB-Miami
4 (109)-Alameda Ta’amu-NT-Washington
5 (159)-Chris Rainey-RB-Florida
7 (231) Toney Clemons-WR-Colorado
7 (240) David Paulson-TE-Oregon
7 (246)-Terrence Frederick-CB-Texas A&M
7 (248)-Kelvin Beachum-G-SMU

Philadelphia Eagles
1 (12)-Fletcher Cox-DT-Mississippi St.
2 (46)-Mychal Kendricks-ILB-Calfiornia
2 (59)-Vinny Curry-DE-Marshall
3 (88)-Nick Foles-QB-Arizona
4 (123)-Brandon Boykin-CB-Georgia
5 (153)-Dennis Kelly-OT-Purdue
6 (194)-Marvin McNutt-WR-Iowa
6 (200)-Brandon Washington-G-Miami
7 (229)-Bryce Brown-RB-Kansas St.

Mock Draft Version 4.0 (Final)

1.Indianapolis Colts-QB-Andrew Luck-Stanford
The Colts just lost their franchise quarterback but are lined up to take another one. There are almost no flaws to Luck’s game; he makes all of the right choices, he’s the first one in the gym and last one out, he makes his teammates better and he is a class act. Luck will be the face of the franchise for a long time.

2.Washington Redskins (From STL)-QB-Robert Griffin III-Baylor
Griffin is why the Redskins traded up in the draft, he is deadly accurate when throwing the deep ball and he can make plays with his legs. Not only is a freak on the field, but, he has a high football I.Q., unlimited potential and is a great leader.

3.Minnesota Vikings-OT-Matt Kalil-USC
The Vikings have many needs (OL, DB & WR). Matt Kalil is the top left tackle in this class and he can be a cornerstone for the franchise’s offense. Kalil and RT Phil Loadholt would become great bookends and solidify that line in the pass game a well as run game. This year’s CB and WR classes are deep enough to assess those needs later, they must improve their line in the first round.

4.Cleveland Browns-RB-Trent Richardson-Alabama
The Browns need a play-maker badly. They lost Peyton Hillis and love to run the ball. Richardson is the best running back coming out since Adrian Peterson and is good in all areas of his game. He can run up the middle, run outside, block and catch; he is a can’t miss pick for the Browns.

5.Tampa Bay Buccaneers-CB Morris Claiborne-LSU
After going out and getting Carl Nicks and Vincent Jackson in free agency, the Bucs can focus their first round pick on defense. Morris Claiborne has fantastic ball skills, tremendous speed & can be left on an island. He is electrifying on defense and will be a part of a great corps with Aqib Talib and Eric Wright.

6.St. Louis Rams-WR-Justin Blackmon-Oklahoma St.
Coach Jeff Fisher loves to draft defensive lineman early as he showed in Tenn (6 first round picks on DL). The fact of the matter is that the Rams need to surround QB Sam Bradford with weapons. Blackmon can run any route and continues to make plays even after the catch.

7.Jacksonville Jaguars-CB-Stephon Gilmore-South Carolina
Gilmore has been quietly crawling up the draft boards and rightfully so. Gilmore is a complete corner who is great in both zone and man coverage, he can also tackle and create turnovers. I expect Jacksonville to trade out of this spot but if they are here, expect them to take Gilmore. He has drawn comparisons to Reshean Mathis and the Jags have 4 cornerbacks with expiring contracts this season.

8.Miami Dolphins-QB-Ryan Tannehill-Texas A&M
Although I don’t think it is the right move I think the Dolphins select Ryan Tannehill. Miami’s new OC, Mike Sherman, coached Tannehill at Texas A&M and he is pushing for him. The ideal situation will be for Tannehill to sit a year but the Dolphins might not be that patient. Tannehill is a project to say the least, but he has the tools to become a gem in the NFL.

9.Carolina Panthers-DE-Quinton Coples-North Carolina
Years ago the Panthers had a guy named Julius Peppers and he was the anchor to that defense. Carolina is desperate for a pass-rusher and Coples has all the talent in the world. Expect the Panthers to take a hard look at Kuechly, but I still feel Coples will hear his name called at number nine.

10.Buffalo Bills-OT-Riley Reiff-Iowa
The Bills need to find a guy that could potentially take the place of LT Demetress Bell whom they had lost in free agency. If both corner backs are off the board Reiff looks to be the pick. He is great with his hands and stands up defenders.

11.Kansas City Chiefs-OG-David DeCastro-Stanford
VP Scott Pioli has been high on DeCastro all year long. DeCastro is arguably the second best lineman in the draft. He can pass block and run block extremely well and he started a ton of games at Stanford.

12.Seattle Seahawks-ILB-Luke Kuechly-Boston College
After losing David Hawthorne, Seattle is looking for a new middle linebacker. They could reach on a pass rusher hear but if Kuechly is on the board they will consider it a steal. Kuechly is a tackling machine and has a great understanding of the game. He is one of those players that is always in the right place at the right time and he can become the leader of the Seahawks defense.

13.Arizona Cardinals-WR-Michael Floyd-Notre Dame
Michael Floyd is a gifted WR that will take some of the pressure off of Larry Fitzgerald. Arizona needs another option at WR and Floyd would be a huge upgrade. He is a great route-runner and has soft hands. Larry Fitzgerald has come out and said he wants Floyd draft so consider this one a lock.

14.Dallas Cowboys-SS-Mark Barron-Alabama
Safety is the top priority for the Cowboys going into the draft and Barron can become the top safety in the NFL. Finding a guy that is hard-hitting and cover is very rare. The Cowboys have publicly fallen in love with Barron and expect to make him the next Dallas star.

15. Philadelphia Eagles-DT-Fletcher Cox-Mississippi St.
Scheme is not a concern when talking about drafting Fletcher Cox. He can fit in both 4-3 and 3-4 and play all positions along the defensive line. Cox is explosive off the line and can burst through the protection to make plays in the backfield.

16.New York Jets-DE/OLB-Melvin Ingram-South Carolina
Rex Ryan wants a premier pass-rusher and Ingram would be a great fit at OLB in Jets defense. Ingram is not the most physically gifted but he can shed blockers and will provide immediate pass-rush help.

17.Cincinnati Bengals (From Oakland)-OL-Cordy Glenn-Georgia
Glenn is a guy that can fill a bunch of holes along the offensive line. He was a guard at Georgia but is big and strong enough to become a tackle and can become a force on the interior.

18.San Diego Chargers-OLB-Chandler Jones-Syracuse
Despite being raw, Jones is a long and unique pass-rusher. He can play both defensive end and outside backer which the Chargers could use to their advantage. Jones is tough to block because of his wingspan and could be a terror in the AFC West.

19.Chicago Bears-DE/OLB-Whitney Mercilus-Illinois
Love Smith and the Chicago front office have been adamant that they will be taking defense. Mercilus is the type of players that the Bears like and he could start out as a rotational end, spelling Idonje and Peppers. Mercilus is a bull rusher and has length, DC Rod Marinelli could work wonders with him.

20.Tennessee Titans-CB-Dre Kirkpatrick-Alabama
The Titans lost Cortland Finnegan who was a huge part of that defense. Dre Kirkpatrick has a low bust possibility and plays like a veteran. He is a huge corner at 6’2 and can tackle very well for a cornerback.

21.Cincinnati Bengals-WR-Kendall Wright-Baylor
The Bengals have already gone out and gotten a lineman, now the key is to add more weapons for Andy Dalton. A.J. Green had a tremendous rookie season and Jordan Shipley will be back in the early season but they lost Jerome Simpson. Wright is the ideal slot receiver who can help in the return game and has big play potential.

22.Cleveland Browns (From Atlanta)-OT-Jonathan Martin-Stanford
The Browns desperately need a right tackle and Martin can be the guy that fills a need. He is big, long and powerful; Joe Thomas would be a great mentor for Martin. They already drafted their running back, now they need to bolster up their line for him.

23.Detroit Lions–OLB/DE-Courtney Upshaw-Alabama
The Lions are a team that draft the best player available. With the 23^rd pick they kill two birds with one stone; they get the best player available and they fill a huge need in getting a pass-rusher. Upshaw can get to the QB and can disrupt the run game, he is a great player to have.

24.Pittsburgh Steelers-NT/DT-Dontari Poe-Memphis
Dontari Poe is a wild card in this year’s draft. He was a workout warrior at the combine and his pro-day but when you go back to the film does not show the same ability consistently. Poe is both quick and strong at 345 pounds but needs to show consistency; he will learn under Casey Hampton and eventually take over.

25.Denver Broncos-DT-Michael Brockers-LSU
Denver’s biggest need is a DT. Brockers is young but has an outstanding skill set. He was the anchor to that LSU defense and he busted through double teams a lot of the time. Brockers uses his strength as well as his active hands to shed blockers and he will only keep getting better.

26.Houston Texans-WR-Rueben Randle-LSU
The Texans are very thin at the WR position other than All-Pro wide-out Andre Johnson. Rueben Randle will sneak into the first round because of his skill set and he is a quiet player off the field. Randle is an extraordinary route-runner and at 6’3 212 he is dominant in the blocking game for a WR.

27.New England Patriots-DE/OLB-Shea McClellin-Boise State
Shea McClellin was one of the most efficient pass rushers in the nation last year. He is a versatile player that can get to the quarterback in more ways than one. The Patriots lacked a good consistent pass rush and Mcclellin will bring both intensity and the ability to play different position which Belichick loves.

28.Green Bay Packers-DE/OLB-Nick Perry-USC
The Packers are another team that are in dire need of a guy to generate pass rush. Clay Mathews was double-teamed virtually all of last season and without him Green Bay couldn’t get to the quarterback. Nick Perry is a hybrid (can play DE/OLB) that is still raw but is physically gifted and has a great combination of speed and power. He has potential to be one of the most rewarded players in the draft.

29.Baltimore Ravens-OG-Amini Silatolu-Midwestern State
Silatolu is a player that dominated at Midwestern State. He is a huge guard with freakish strength. The Ravens are trying to get younger and they need a guard. This is a win-win scenario.

30.San Francisco 49ers-TE-Coby Fleener-Stanford
Back at Stanford (where Harbaugh) coached, he loved to use sets that included multiple tight ends. Back in that Stanford offense Coby Fleener was a key cog in the offensive machine. Vernon Davis is still the guy in SF but Fleener is very versatile and has great receiving talent.

31.New England Patriots-ILB-Dont’a Hightower-Alabama
For this pick Bill Belichick will be utilizing his Alabama connections and getting quite the player in Hightower. The Patriot use a bunch of different defensive formations but they love the 4-3. Hightower would pair up with Spikes nicely and they would be able to leave Mayo at OLB. Hightower needs to improve his pass defense but he will blossom into a great pro.

32.New York Giants-OT-Mike Adams-Ohio St.
The Giants would love for Coby Fleener to fall to them but it is unlikely. With the last pick of the first round they will increase the offensive line with Mike Adams. Adams has all of the natural tools and was on a very good line at OSU.

Round 2

33.St. Louis Rams-DT-Jerel Worthy-Michigan St.
-Worthy is a big DT that fits the defense Jeff Fisher wants to run. The Rams need guys that will perform immediately.

34.Indianapolis Colts-C-Peter Konz-Wisconsin
-Luck is the new Manning and Konz is the new Saturday. The Colts have needs at a bunch of positions but they need to protect their QB first.

35.Minnesota Vikings-S-Harrison Smith-Notre Dame
-Harrison Smith will go early because of the lack of safeties. Vikings need a center fielder that can create turnovers and lead a defense.

36.Tampa Bay Buccaneers-RB-Doug Martin-Boise State
-A running back that can do it all. Tampa Bay loves the play action and Martin is excellent at both blocking and receiving. A great compliment for Blount.

37.Cleveland Browns-WR-Alshon Jeffery-South Carolina
-Has potential to be the best WR in the draft with his given skill set. Cleveland needs a big receiver that can go up and get it. This would be a steal.

38.Jacksonville Jaguars-DT-Kendall Reyes-Connecticut
-Terrance Knighton is entering a contract year and will most likely miss the season due to eye surgery. Kendall Reyes has versatility and great upside.

39.St. Louis Rams (From Washington)-RB-Lamar Miller-Miami
-Jeff Fisher loves running backs and Lamar Miller is a speedster with the ability to catch the ball. Opens windows for the Rams offense.

40.Carolina Panthers-CB-Janoris Jenkins-Northern Alabama
-With all baggage aside, Jenkins is a top 10 talent in this draft. The Panthers will take a chance on him because they desperately need a CB.

41.Buffalo Bills-WR-Stephen Hill-Georgia Tech
-The Bills need a guy to lineup opposite of Stevie Johnson. Hill is a developing WR who can flat out fly.

42.Miami Dolphins-DE-Andre Branch-Clemson
-Miami is moving to a 4-3 defense. Branch is a powerful end that can stop the run as well as sack the QB.

43.Seattle Seahawks-DE/OLB-Vinny Curry-Marshall
-Seahawks need pass rushers and Curry provides versatility. Pete Carroll will have fun coaching him up.

44.Kansas City Chiefs-NT/DT-Devon Still-Penn St.
-Kelly Gregg is 35 and Devon Still is a first round talent. There are not many true nose tackles in this draft but Still is a guy that has unique talent.

45.Dallas Cowboys-Kevin Zeitler-Wisconsin
-Zeitler is a steal this late in the draft. Dallas signed two guards in the off-season but Zeitler is still an upgrade.

46.Philadelphia Eagles-OLB-Lavonte David-Nebraska
-As of right now it looks like the Eagles swung and missed on Casey Matthews. They are still thin at the linebacker position. David is undersized but wreaks havoc.

47.New York Jets-OT-Bobby Massie-Mississippi
-The Jets aren’t confident in Vladimir Ducasse and the RT position is a question mark. Bobby Massie is massive and can stop pass-rushers at will.

48.New England (From Oakland)-CB-Trumaine Johnson-Montana
-The Patriots love this guy. They usually have success when they get smaller school players. Trumaine Johnson was lights out at Montana and will develop nicely under the Pats.

49.San Diego Chargers-OG-Brandon Washington-Miami
-The Chargers have had bad luck recently with lineman through injury and failure. Washington is a guy who played a ton of snaps at Miami while committing few penalties.

50.Chicago Bears-DT-Derek Wolfe-Cincinnati
-Can’t say enough that the Bears love defense. Wolfe is a 4-3 DT that fits their style of play and can thrive on that team.

51.Philadelphia Eagles (From Cardinals)-TE-Dwayne Allen-Clemson
-Philly could take a running back at this spot but Allen would be hard for them to pass up. Helps out the pass game and run game, makes sense with no backup TE.

52.Tennessee Titans-DE-Tyrone Crawford-Boise St.
-They brought in Kameron Wimbley but still need to get to the quarterback, Crawford has been quiet in draft talks but he is a very sound player.

53.Cincinnati Bengals-S-Brandon Taylor-LSU
-The release of Chris Crocker leaves a huge hole at safety. Taylor is a men safety who was on an elite defense.

54.Detroit Lions-CB-Josh Robinson-UCF
-Robinson can fly and is ready to start in the NFL right now. Fluent hips and great ball skills.

55.Atlanta Falcons-OT-Jeff Allen-Illinois
-Atlanta needs lineman that won’t step on Matt Ryan’s feet. Allen is a big tackle that stays square and has great extension.

56.Pittsburgh Steelers-OT-Kelechi Osemele-Iowa St.
-Osemele is raw but versatile. Will most likely develop into a starting tackle but can fill in for empty spots right now on the stealers.

57.Denver Broncos-RB-LaMichael James-Oregon
-Many people forget how much Peyton Manning uses their running backs. Knowshon Moreno is a bust and McGahee is old. James improves pass game and special teams.

58.Houston Texans-DT-Mike Martin-Michigan
-Ever since they drafted Mario Williams the Texans have been all about building a defense. They try to finish that this year with drafting a bull-rushing DT in Martin.

Saints Forfeit

59.Green Bay Packers-RB-David Wilson-Virginia Tech
-David Wilson can run between the tackles and catch exceptionally well. Wilson could have been a first rounder if he didn’t fumble at VT. He will be a great replacement for Ryan Grant.

60.Baltimore Ravens-OLB-Bobby Wagner-Utah St.
-Once again, trying to get younger. Wagner has been under-the-radar but is a bright spot in this class. Hard-hitting, smart and he is a playmaker.

61.San Francisco 49ers-C-Ben Jones-Georgia
-Ben Jones is a mashing center that plays to the style of the 49ers. He will improve the run game even more.

62.New England Patriots-OG-Brandon Brooks-Miami (OH)
-The Patriots line has been aging and injury prone for quite some time. Belichick will never say no to drafting a lineman. This is similar to their Sebastian Volmer pick a few years back. Brooks will learn under Waters.

63.New York Giants-RB-Chris Polk-Washington
-Polk is a sleeper in this draft; he has all of the tools and intangibles. He is great in play action and isn’t afraid to run between the tackles. Extremely shifty and quick with cuts.

Round 3

64.Colts-CB-Jamell Fleming-Oklahoma
-As much as Indy needs offense they need to asses the back seven on defense. Fleming is a great tackler and can help in the run game as well as the pass.

65.Rams-OLB-Zach Brown-North Carolina
-Brown can rush the passer and also has the ability to cover in the zone. All around great skill-set.

66.Vikings-WR-Mohamed Sanu-Rutgers
-Now they start getting weapons for Ponder. Sanu is a possession receiver that is hard to bring down.

67.Browns-QB-Brandon Weeden-Oklahoma St.
-Weeden is NFL ready and will bring great QB competition to Cleveland. They need an answer if Colt McCoy isn’t able to perform.

68.Buccaneers-ILB-James Michael-Johnson-Nevada
-Last year the Buc took Mason Foster in this round but James Michael-Johnson increases depth and is more fundamentally sound. Great tackler and he will learn the NFL quickly.

69.Redskins-OG-James Brown-Troy
-Depth is needed on the offensive line. James Brown has not been talked about much but Washington loves big offensive lineman who will need some time to develop.

70.Jaguars-WR-Brian Quick-Appalachian St.
-Brian Quick falling this far may be a dream come true for the Jaguars. Quick is 6’4 with strong hands and is fantastic after the catch. Surround Gabbert with as many weapons as possible.

71.Bills-QB-Brock Osweiler-Arizona St.
-Probably won’t start for 2-3 years but fits the Chan Gailey offense. Osweiler is crazy athletic at 6’7 and throws darts. He has the most upside in this year’s draft.

72.Dolphins-WR-Juron Criner-Arizona
-Losing Brandon Marshall plays a big part in the middle rounds for the Dolphins. They need a receiver that can turn into a #1 guy. Criner is 6’3 and has big-lay potential.

73.Dolphins (From Chi)-TE-Ladarius Green-Lousiana-Lafayette
-Anthony Fasano is an underrated tight end but many teams are beginning to use two TE’s. Green is a “new era” tight end as I like to call them; very fast, soft hands and big.

74.Chiefs-ILB-Mychal Kendricks-California
-Derrick Johnson isn’t getting any younger. Mychal Kendricks could start immediately as the guy on the side of Johnson.

Ron Brooks is a vicious defender and a pure playmaker.

75.Seahawks-RB-Isaiah Pead-Cincinatti
-The Seahawks need another RB that provides versatility, mostly receiving. Pead is small but holds his own and he has a nose for the end zone.

76.Texans-CB-Ron Brooks-LSU
-The best-kept secret in this year’s draft. He was overshadowed by Claiborne but is a big-time player. Hard-hitting corner that will become a number 1 in the future.

77.Jets-WR-Marvin McNutt-Iowa
-The Jets have turned into a passing offense, however, they need more weapons. McNutt is a tall receiver that can make all of the catches and improve the offense.

78.Chargers-TE-Michael Egnew-Missouri
-With Anontio Gates health being questionable week-in and week-out, Egnew is a safe pick here. He has the best hands out of all the tight ends and could be a part of a deadly combo when Gates plays.

79.Bears-S-George Iolka-Boise St.
-Still drafting defense. Iolka is a safety that can ball-hawk as well as step up in the run game. The Bears need a safety.

80.Cardinals-OLB-Bruce Irvin-West Virgnia
-Irvin is solely a blitzer but that does not hurt his draft stock. When he lines up he locks on to the QB and never loses sight. Arizona failed to get to the QB last year.

81.Cowboys-WR-Ryan Broyles-Alabama
-After seeing the production out of their 3^rd WR last year (Laurent Robinson-Jax) they now look to get another WR. Broyles is your prototypical slot guy that can make defenders miss and he can stretch the field.

82.Titans-WR-A.J. Jenkins-Illinois
-Last year the Titans realized how much they relied on Kenny Britt. Jenkins is a guy that could play the #2 spot, leaving Nate Washington in the slot. He has big hands and creates separation.

83.Bengals-CB-Dwight Bentley-Louisiana-Lafayette
-Bentley is a burner. The Bengals went out and got Terrance Newman in the off-season but they still need to get younger and deeper. Bentler can cover the slot right away.

84.Falcons-OLB-Ronell Lewis-Oklahoma
– The Falcons need a pass rusher, especially when you are facing Newton, Brees and Freeman 2 times each season. Lewis is a powerful backer who can dismantle a QB when he gets there.

85.Lions-OT-Donald Stephenson-Oklahoma
-Jeff Backus is going to retire soon and this is their primary need in the third round. Stephenson is a disciplined tackle who will become a starter for a long time.

86.Steelers-ILB-Vontaze Burfict-Arizona St.
-This is my surprise pick of the draft. At the start of the mock draft season, Burfict was being looked at as a first round pick. Then it looked like he wouldn’t even get drafted because of anger issues and personality. I feel this is a great project for Mike Tomlin; he will set Burfict straight.

87.Broncos-QB-Kirk Cousins-Michigan St.
-The Broncos need to find a guy that can learn under Manning. Cousins is a natural winner who has a great work ethic. Great things can come from this.

88.Eagles-S-Antonio Allen-South Carolina
-The Eagles need to get some kind of production from the safety strong safety position. Nate Allen has been terrific at free safety but now they finish off the back seven with this draft pick.

89.Saints-CB-Casey Hayward-Vanderbilt
-Similar play style to Tracy Porter (who they lost). Hayward can press extremely well and is great at jumping routes.

90.Packers-OG-Senio Kelemete-Washington
-Senio Kelemete looks like a Packer player when you first take a gander, much like Bulaga did two years ago. He fills a need and will provide versatility for a banged up line.

91.Ravens-RB-Robert Turbin-Utah St.
-In my opinion he is the biggest sleeper of the draft and can be an elite back. The Ravens lost Ricky Williams (retirement) and need a downhill runner to match-up with Rice. Turbin is all that and a bag of chips.

92.49ers-DL-Jared Crick-Nebraska
-Jared Crick is a brute on the defensive line and can collapse the pocket. He is all strength and no finesse. Not only is he the best player available but he could be the second coming of Justin Smith.

93.Patriots-FS-Markelle Martin-Oklahoma St.
-I don’t think the Patriot will end up moving Devin McCourty to free safety, leaving this position as a need. Markelle Martin is a center fielder and is a very coachable player.

94.Giants-TE-Orson Charles-Georgia
-Perhaps the most gifted TE in this draft. Charles is a fantastic blocker, shows great speed/acceleration and can catch the ball. The Giants need a tight end; as of right now they have Ballard and Beckum who are out for season already and an unproven Martellus Bennett.

95.Raiders (Compensatory)-OT-Zebrie Sanders-Florida St.
-The Raiders have a lot of holes in their depth chart and don’t help their cause with not having a pick till the third round. Zebrie Sanders is a huge tackle who is strong like an ox. He has some minor concerns like motor, but he is a great value at 95.

On the Verge of Sliding into Top Three Rounds

CB-Jayron Hosley-Virginia Tech
NT-Alameda Ta’amu-Washington
OLB-Jonathan Massaquoi-Troy
CB-Micah Pellerin-Hampton
WR-Tommy Streeter-Miami
QB-Nick Foles-Arizona

Mock Draft Version 3.0

Round 1

1. Indianapolis Colts- QB- Andrew Luck-Stanford
It is a clear consensus that Andrew Luck will be the number one pick of this year’s draft. Robert Griffin III refused to have a private workout with the Colts making this pick look even more assuring. Andrew Luck is the most NFL ready player in this draft and has few flaws. He can make all of the throws, read all the coverages and be the face of a hurting franchise.

2.Washington Redskins (From St. Louis)-QB-Robert Griffin III-Baylor
Washington gave up a lot of picks to set them up to take RG3 and rightfully so. Griffin will have quite an impact right away in the NFL; he is dual-threat (throw & run) and he can throw the deep ball very accurately. Washington went out and got Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan to make Griffin’s transition to the NFL “easier.”

3.Minnesota Vikings-OT-Matt Kalil-USC
Matt Kalil is as close as you will get to a sure thing for lineman in this draft, he is the ideal size for a franchise tackle. Kalil exhibited both production and a fantastic work ethic at Southern Cal. The Vikings need to protect Ponder and no better way to do that by assessing the problem with the third overall pick.

4.Cleveland Browns-RB-Trent Richardson-Alabama
Cleveland has been desperate for a playmaker. With the way NFL offenses are constructed today, a RB would not be taken in the first 20 picks but Richardson is an exception. He is 228 pounds of solid muscle and can catch the ball very well out of the backfield. Has a tremendous balance between speed and power; he is a francihse back.

5.Tampa Bay Buccaneers-CB-Morris Claiborne- LSU
Yes, Claiborne scored an abysmal 4 on the Wonderlic Test but put him on a football field and his I.Q. shoots up exponentially. Not only does he have great instincts but he can keep up with the fastest WR and can play bump and run. Claiborne is the total package at corner; can tackle, great ball skills and won’t get beat. Look for him and Talib to tally up a bunch of interceptions.

6.St. Louis Rams-WR-Justin Blackmon-Oklahoma State
The Rams traded back to the number six pick and they very well could trade back again. The safe pick here is to take Justin Blackmon. He the best WR in the class and Sam Bradford needs a weapon. Bradford can throw Blackmon anything from screens to streaks and he will produce.

7.Jacksonville Jaguars-DE/OLB-Melvin Ingram-South Carolina
After the South Carolina Pro-Day Melvin Ingram became the top DE in this year’s draft class. He played DT, DE and OLB at South Carolina and can get to the QB in a variety of ways. Jacksonville desperately needs someone to generate pass rush, Ingram will have an immediate impact.

8.Miami Dolphins-WR-Michael Floyd-Notre Dame
This is a bit of a surprise pick at number 8 but with the departure of Brandon Marshall (traded to Denver), Miami needs a #1 receiver. It makes all the sense in the world for them to take Tannehill (West Coast Offense, MIA OC was Tannehill’s coach at A&M) but taking him at #9 nine is very risky. The Dolphins did well with Matt Moore playing QB and they signed David Garrard, get weapons for the QBs you have now. Floyd will become the #1 receiver on that team instantly.

9.Carolina Panthers-DE-Quinton Coples-North Carolina
The Panthers can do a bunch of different things at this pick. They could take a chance on Dontari Poe or local Stephon Gilmore who are both top-10 talents. Quinton Coples presents the lowest risk and highest reward for the Panthers. He has been compared to Julius Peppers (tall, long and fast). Coples has a fantastic spin move to create separation with the offensive lineman and can get to the QB quickly.

10.Buffalo Bills-OT-Riley Reiff-Iowa
The Bills assessed their pass-rushing need through free agency by singing Mario Williams, but they also lost LT Demetress Bell via free agency. C.J. Spiller has shown he can do damage and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick needs more protection. Riley Reiff was well coached at Iowa and is ready to start immediately. Reiff is excellent at pass-blocking and just as good in run-blocking, he will only keep getting better.

11.Kansas City Chiefs-QB Ryan Tannehill-Texas A&M
The Chiefs are one of the most talented teams in the National Football League, but, they need a better QB. A team might trade up for Tannehill because of the physical tools and potential shown. Last season was Tannehill’s first year playing quarterback and he showed great leadership and a will to win. He will be a project, but he can become a very good NFL quarterback.

12. Seattle Seahawks-LB-Luke Kuechly-Boston College
The Seahawks lost a quality linebacker in David Hawthorne in free agency this off-season. Kuechly is deemed to be one of the most solid linebackers coming out of the draft in recent time. Boston College has a history of producing great linebackers and Kuechly is one of the best. He has outstanding instincts and has a nose for the football. Fills a big need for Seattle.

13.Arizona Cardinals-DT-Dontari Poe-Memphis
The Cardinals front office has become accustomed to taking the best player off the board with their selections. With Reiff and Floyd both off the board Arizona can fill a big run stopping need with Poe. He can be the anchor of that 3-4 defense and he can make tackles in the backfield. Poe is the biggest risk in the draft but he also could be one of the biggest rewards; could be one of the best picks of the draft in the long run.

14.Dallas Cowboys-S-Mark Barron-Alabama
The Cowboys assessed their offensive line in the off-season and can take quality lineman later in this draft. At times last year the Cowboys defense collapsed and gave up big leads. Bringing in CB Brandon Carr is great but they need better play at the safety position and Barron is a huge upgrade. Mark Barron is a smart, physical defensive leader who gives it his all on every play. Nick Saban creates great defensive players at Alabama, Barron is another testament to that.

15.Philadelphia Eagles-DT-Fletcher Cox-Mississippi State
Cox is a great 4-3 devensive lineman; he is explosive and wreaks havoc on the interior. This former Bulldog is quick off the snap and plays hard until the whistle. Cox is 6’4, 298 and is still growing; he is going to be a problem for NFL lineman.

16.New York Jets-OLB-Courtney Upshaw-Alabama
Upshaw is a pure pass-rusher. He is one of the players that always seems to be in the right place at the right time and plays his best when the lights are brightest. Upshaw would be the blitzing linebacker that Rex Ryan is looking for; he is brutal and won’t stop until he gets to the QB.

17.Cincinnati Bengals (From Oakland)-OG-David Decastro
Fundamentally sound and a great run blocker, Decastro would be of great value at the 17^th pick. The Bengals need to keep Andy Dalton healthy and provide run-blocking for Green-Ellis. David Decastro immediately adds to the rushing attack and is great both on and off the field.

18.San Diego Chargers-DE/OLB-Chandler Jones-Syracuse
Chandler Jones has been flying up the draft boards lately and his versatility is one of the main reasons. He is listed as a DE but could easily move to OLB in a pass-rushing role. He has the bloodlines; brother of MMA fighter Jon “Bones” Jones and Arthur of the Baltimore Ravens. High motor plus willingness to learn plus raw talent equals a pro-bowler, and that’s what he can very well become.

19.Chicago Bears-DE-Whitney Mercilus-Illinois
Lovie Smith has come out and said he wants to improve the defense through the draft and Whitney Mercilus is a player that will fit right in with the Bears. You can never have too many pass-rushers, he could learn a lot from Julius Peppers. Mercilus is long and plays with great anticipation.

20.Tennessee Titans-CB-Dre Kirkpatrick-Alabama
Cortland Finnegan was a huge loss for the Titans. They can make up for it by selecting Dre Kirkpatrick, he is 6’4 and is not afraid to tackle. Kirkpatrick can be left on an island against tall WR and shut them down.

21.Cincinnati Bengals-CB-Stephon Gilmore-South Carolina
Gilmore is a top 10 talent but will fall because he doesn’t have blazing speed or other jaw dropping qualities. He is an amazing cover corner and understands the game of football to a T. Gilmore can press and doesn’t have many flaws.

22.Cleveland Browns (From Atlanta)-OG-Cordy Glenn-Georgia
Between drafting a running back in the top five and having a QB that got sacked a lot, improving the line is a must. Glenn is naturally a guard but is big enough to play the tackle position if need be. He is a tough player and should make this line stronger as a whole; they will be running a lot next year.

23. Detroit Lions-OT-Jonathan Martin-Stanford
The Lions have very good skills players but need to strengthen up their line. Martin is a diamond in the rough; he protected Andrew Luck at Stanford and doesn’t commit penalties. Jeff Backus is very old and Martin is still learning while being very good. Drafting an offensive lineman is the main need of this team.

24.Pittsburgh Steelers-LB-Don’t’a Hightower-Alabama
Hightower would be a natural fit in the Steeler defense and this pick makes even more sense with the release of James Farrior. Hightower is of good stature and very athletic, he will cause problems for opposing offenses.

25.Denver Broncos-DT-Michael Brockers-LSU
Brockers has been falling down the draft boards as of late but is still a great pick for the Broncos. They desperately need an interior D-lineman; he is a brute and has active hands. When you watch LSU tape you don’t notice him right away but when you watch replays he is always the one that started to disrupt the play.

26.Houston Texans-WR-Kendall Wright-Baylor
The Texans need another option than Andre Johnson at the wide receiver position. Kendall Wright is not big but he is a straight burner. He has a tendency to slip by the defense and just get open, similar to Brandon Lloyd. He can run all different routes and does damage after the catch.

27.New England Patriots (From New Orleans)-DT-Kendall Reyes-Connecticut
Reyes might be this draft’s best-kept secret. He is raw but very skilled. Reyes made a name for himself at the Senior Bowl where he was beating the country’s best OL repeatedly.

28.Green Bay Packers-DE/OLB-Nick Perry-USC
The Packers need another pass-rusher, they struggled to get to the quarteback all season long. Not only does Perry offer great versatility but he has an enormous skill set and isn’t even close to reaching his potential. If he builds more muscle he could be even more lethal; Perry is a star in the making.

29.Baltimore Ravens-C-Peter Konz-Nebraska
Baltimore needs to improve the line just a tad if they want to keep Ray Rice happy. Peter Konz is of great value atht e 29^th pick and the Ravens could use a center (Matt Birk isn’t getting any younger). Lineman that come out of Wisconsin are big, tough and really good in the NFL, the Ravens line has been injury prone and Konz is ready to take on the top DT in the league.

30.San Francisco 49ers-TE-Coby Fleener-Stanford
Back when he coached at Stanford, Harbaugh loved to utilize his tight ends. Yes, the niners have Vernon Davis but many teams are using two tight ends now (Gronk/Hernandez & Graham/Thomas). Fleener catches balls over the defenders and has soft hands while still being able to block in the run game.

31. New England Patriots-OLB-Shea McClellin-Boise State
He played the 5-technique at Boise State but he can become a standup pass rusher for the Patriots, which they lack. New England always seems to find great players that are under-the-radar and turn them into superstars. McClellin would thrive in the Belichick defensive scheme.

32. New York Giants-OT-Mike Adams-Ohio State
The Giants went out and won the Super Bowl with a banged up team but there is always room for improvement. Mike Adams is a big offensive tackle that can help a run game that is losing out on Brandon Jacobs. The NFC East has some of the best pass-rushers in the league, Giants need to draft people to stop the Wares, Orakpos and Babins of the league.

ROUND 2

33. St. Louis Rams-Jerel Worthy-DT-Michigan State
-Worthy is a big DL that can stop the run, Rams need a lot of help on defense.

34. Indianapolis Colts-WR-Stephen Hill-Georgia Tech
-A nice new weapon for Andrew Luck, Stephen Hill is a burner and will great beside Reggie Wayne.

35. Minnesota Vikings-S-Harrison Smith-Notre Dame
-Will get picked early via lack of safeties this year but the Vikings desperately need a DB with a high football I.Q.

36. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-RB-Lamar Miller-Miami
-Could be the lightning to Blount’s thunder, great in the pass game and can bounce it outside, turn the corner and bring it for 6 on any play.

37. Cleveland Browns-WR-Alshon Jeffery-South Carolina
-A big receiver that can help a struggling Browns offense. First round talent, will make McCoy very happy.

Massie is a massive athlete. Very strong and can hold his own against the best pass-rushers.

38. Jacksonville Jaguars-OT-Bobby Massie-Ole Miss
-Cannot stress enough that you need to protect Blaine Gabbert. Big tackle that will help both MJD and the pass protection.

39. St. Louis Rams (From Washington)-OT-Zebrie Sanders-Florida State
-Keep Bradford off his back, Zebrie is big and powerful, potential LT.

40. Carolina Panthers-CB-Janoris Jenkins-Northern Alabama
-If off-field issues didn’t matter, he goes in the top 10. Ball hawk and can score on defense, very mean with the man coverage. Huge upgrade for the Panthers.

41. Buffalo Bills-WR-Brian Quick-Appalachian State
-Still developing but he is big and can bruise corners after the catch. Big hands, great guy to play on the other side of Stevie Johnson.

42. Miami Dolphins-QB-Brock Osweiler-Arizona State
-With Moore and Garrard under contract let Osweiler develop this season. There is no limit on potential with him, he’s a winner and has what it takes to succeed.

43. Seattle Seahawks-DE/OLB-Andre Branch-Clemson
-Seahawks need to improve pass rush, Branch is first-round talent and can play multiple positions.

44. Kansas City Chiefs-LB-Mychal Kendricks-California
-Can learn under and eventually takeover Derrick Johnson’s position. Incredibly athletic and makes plays all over the field.

45. Dallas Cowboys-OG-Kevin Zeitler-Wisconsin
-A big need for a lineman here, Zeitler is fundamentally sound and is a low risk selection.

46. Philadelphia Eagles-OLB-Lavonte David-Nebraska
-Can play weak-side linebacker opposite of Akeem Nicks. Could be one of the biggest steals of the draft; undersized but a natural talent.

47. New York Jets-WR-Rueben Randle-LSU
-No matter who the QB of this team is you need to get them more weapons. Randle has good size and is willing to block.

48. New England (From Oakland)-CB-Josh Robinson-Central Florida
-The fastest CB in this year’s class, Robinson is a project but has a to of upside. Pats took another UCF corner before (Asante Samuel), turned out pretty well.

49. San Diego Chargers-OG-Brandon Brooks-Miami (Ohio)
-Decimated on the offensive line, Brandon Brooks is a small-school player but a big-time talent. Could start all 16 games for SD.

50. Chicago Bears-S-George Iloka-Boise State
-Bears need better player from their safeties. Iloka can blitz and play coverage.

51. Philadelphia Eagles (From Arizona)-TE-Dwayne Allen-Clemson
-Would improve the pass game as well as the run game, Allen was seen as the top TE for most of the year.

52. Tennessee Titans-DT-Derek Wolfe-Cincinnati
-Great DT for a 4-3 defense and can get to the QB quick. Fills a hole in the Titan defense.

53. Cincinnati Bengals-S-Brandon Taylor-LSU
-Terrific safety on an all-star LSU defense. After losing Chris Crocker, Cincy needs to be looking for a safety. Great value pick at 53.

54. Detroit Lions-CB-Dwight Bentley-Louisiana Lafayette
-The Lions got torched, Bently is speedy and can play physical as well. Lions need to assess the secondary.

55. Atlanta Falcons-DE/OLB-Vinny Curry-Marshall
-Abraham is aging, Curry is very strong and deceivingly quick. Need to pressure the opposing QB (Brees, Freeman, Newton).

56. Pittsburgh Steelers-OT-Kelechi Osemele-Iowa State
-Steelers need to improve in a lot of place but with Big Ben getting hurt and losing your RB before the season starts to injury makes you want to improve the line even more. Raw, but strong like an Ox and great extension.

57. Denver Broncos-RB-LaMichael James-Oregon
-Could play a role similar to the one Joseph Addai played with Peyton Manning. Great situational back, great hands, has a knack for big plays.

58. Houston Texans-CB-Trumaine Johnson-Montana
-Dominated at Montana. Kareem Jackson may move to free safety opening up a starting CB spot. Johnson is an excellent corner.

New Orleans Forfeited Pick

59. Green Bay Packers-DL-Jared Crick-Nebraska
-Yes I have them taking Nick Perry but Crick can play both DT and DE. Old–school pass rusher; bull-rush and bowl over the OL.

60. Baltimore Ravens-OLB-Bobby Wagner-Utah State
-One of the hardest hitting men in the draft. Has great speed and instinct. Ravens get younger and fill a need that Jarrett Johnson left.

61. San Francisco 49ers-OG-Amini Silatolu-Midwestern
-Niners lost Adam Snyder but can get a really great guard here. Strong and great footwork.

62. New England Patriots-OG-Brandon Washington-Miami
-Belichick will never pass up on a lineman. Washington has top-notch talent but just needs to learn how to use it. Played over 1,300 snaps at Miami.

63. New York Giants-RB-David Wilson-Virginia Tech
-Need to find a replacement for Jacobs. Wilson is a downhill runner that can catch, block and make defenders miss.

Round 3

64. Colts-DT-Devon Still-Penn State
-Still seen as a first-round talent by some teams. Colts are moving to 3-4, Still is big and is a perfect fit.

65. Rams-CB-Alfonzo Dennard-Nebraska
-Jeff Fisher brough in Finnegan but will still need to build depth at CB.

66. Vikings-WR-Juron Criner-Arizona
-6’3 receiver that can make crazy catches. He stretches the field.

Weeden may be older than your typical prospect, but he can start in the NFL right now.

67. Browns-QB-Brandon Weeden-OK St.
-Browns need a QB to compete with McCoy, Weeden might be starting by week 3.

68. Buccaneers-OLB-Bruce Irvin-West Virginia
-Had an awesome combine but need to develop better technique, Bucs need pass rush.

69. Redskins-OG-James Brown-Troy
-The Redskins need to bulk up on the line, especially facing Ware, Babin and Pierre-Paul twice a year.

70. Jaguars-TE-Michael Egnew-Missouri
-Perhaps the best hands for a tight end in the draft. Maximize the amount of offensive weapons on this team.

71. Bills-QB-Kirk Cousins-Michigan State
-Very underrated, four year captain at MSU and they beat Michigan 4 times while he was there. Can make all the throws.

72. Dolphins-S-Antonio Allen-South Carolina
-Need to solidify the back half of that defense and Yeremiah Bell is no longer in town. Allen was greatly coached at SC and understands the game.

73. Dolphins (From Carolina)-TE-Ladarius Green-Louisiana Lafayette
-Very intriguing prospect, tremendous athlete. Great compliment to Anthony Fasano and he can out-run linebackers.

74. Chiefs-DT-Brandon Thompson-Illinois
-Kelly Gregg is ancient so you need to get a DT soon or later. Brandon Thompson is a big boy and fits into this scheme nicely.

75. Seahawks-RB-Doug Martin-Boise State
-A do-it-all back that will form a great rushing tandem in Seattle. Needs to improve blocking.

76. Texans (From Philly)-OT-Jeff Allen-Illinois
-Lost one of the best LT in the game and Allen might not start immediately, but he can be good.

77. Jets-RB-Isaiah Pead-Cincinnati
-Losing Tomlinson hurts but Pead is a touchdown machine. A smaller back but he can catch and run between the tackles.

Oakland Forfeited Pick

78. Chargers-RB-Bernard Pierce-Temple
-Pierce is under-the-radar but doesn’t fumble and keeps his feet moving. SD needs someone to play on 3^rd downs, Mathews has not been an every down RB thus far.

79. Bears-CB-Jayron Hosley-Virginia Tech
-The Bears need to get younger and Hosley is a physical corner that makes all the right plays.

80. Cardinals-OT-Mitchell Schwartz-California
-Arizona brought back Levi Brown but they still need help on OL. Brother of Geoff Schwartz, Mitchell has been crawling up the boards as of late.

81. Cowboys-C-Ben Jones-Georgia
-Phil Costa did not have a good year last year and the Cowboys need to fill out their line. Jones was successful in the SEC (that’s saying a lot).

82. Titans-OG-Senio Kelemente-Washington
-They brought in Steve Hutchinson but they need guards that can move to protect a scrambling locker. Building for the future essentially.

83. Bengals-RB-Chris Polk-Washington
-The most underrated back in this draft. Excellent at catching out of the backfield, he breaks tackles and can block. The total package.

84. Falcons-C-Michael Brewster-Ohio State
-Falcons need to get better on the line, Brewster was the star of a great OSU line.

85. Lions-OLB-Zach Brown-North Carolina
-Lions need a pass-rusher. Great value pick at 85, Brown could have easily gone in the second round.

86. Steelers-NT/DE-Alameda Ta’amu-Washington
-Casey Hampton is 35 years old, Ta’amu can play NT and DE. Big-bodied and strong, he will make a home for himself in Dick Lebeau’s scheme defense.

87. Broncos-WR-A.J. Jenkins-Illinois
-Could go with a QB to develop under Manning or they could keep giving Manning weapons. A burner with big-play potential.

88. Eagles (From Houston)-WR-Mohamed Sanu-Rutgers
-Need a possession WR. Sanu is sure-handed and will block for Vick on the rollouts and QB keepers.

89. Saints-CB-Casey Hayward-Vanderbilt
-Losing Tracy Porter may hurt a little but Casey Hayward is a quality corner. Very athletic and doesn’t get burned. Tracy Porter skill level worst-case scenario.

90. Packers-OG-Josh LeRebeus-Southern Methodist
-A line that was killed with injury needs to gain depth. Big guard who will play his heart out.

91. Ravens-RB-Robert Turbin-Utah State
-The biggest sleeper of this whole draft. Has the ability to become a top RB in this league, similar player to Marshawn Lynch but is fantastic at catching out of backfield.

92. 49ers-CB-Brandon Boykin-Georgia
-SF brough back all of their defensive starters but need to gain depth at CB. Boykin is physical and solid in all areas of his game.

93. Patriots-FS-Markelle Martin-Oklahoma State
-Big safety that will bring toughness to a Patriots team while staying poised.

94. Giants-CB-Ron Brooks-LSU
-Yet another playmaker on the LSU defense. Not as gifted as Claiborne, but will be a starter for a long time.

95. Raiders (Compensatory)-TE-Orson Charles-Georgia
-Lost Kevin Boss in FA, need more playmakers on this team. Orson Charles was seen as a 1^st rounder early on, great passing threat for Carson Palmer to utilize.

Bold Predictions For All 30 Ball Clubs

At the beginning of the of the 2011 season, if you would have said that Curtis Granderson was going to hit 40+ home runs and Ian Kennedy would reach 20+ wins people would have called you crazy. But those uncanny things happen each year; those players finished with 41 home runs and 21 wins respectively.

This year is going to be a big year for the MLB, more teams are starting to assemble superstar squads while other teams are calling up prospects getting ready for the future.  There will be something that happens to each team that no one has thought of, these will be my bold predictions of the 2012 season.

AL West

Seattle Mariners– Ichiro clubs out a career-high 17 home runs. He has always had pop in his bat but never used it because he was a leadoff hitter. Now he is batting third and knocking some runs in. Also, Jesus Montero will start less than 20 games at the catcher position.

Los Angeles Angels– Mark Trumbo struggles to get implemented/ keep his spot in the lineup (1B, 3B, DH, OF). He won’t even hit 19 home runs and he won’t be able to keep his average above .240. On a positive note, Kendrys Morales will stay healthy for the most part and knock out 26 home runs while C.J. Wilson gets a team-high 24 wins.

Texas Rangers– Mike Napoli ends up getting moved, again, at the trade deadline. Neftali Feliz has an impressive 13-8 record as a starter. Joe Nathan gets hurt (not bold) and Alexei Ogando becomes the closer getting 33+ saves.

Oakland Athletics– Yoenis Cespedes scorches 37 doubles and leads the team with 22 home runs and 89 RBI. Pitcher, Brandon McCarthy, makes the All-Star team and finished the season with 14 wins and a 2.96 ERA with a sub-1 WHIP. Manny Ramirez also takes the DH spot from Jonny Gomes after serving his 50-game suspension and he hits 13 dingers.

AL Central

Detroit Tigers– Alex Avila struggles on offense while the rest of the Tigers do not. Austin Jackson finally proves that the Tigers made the right choice in trading Curtis Granderson for him and company. Jackson steals 34 bases and hits a career-high .294.

Cleveland Indians– Josh Tomlin leads this team in wins with only 12.  Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore miss over a combined 210 games. Ubaldo Jimenez still can’t find his groove in Cleveland.

Minnesota Twins– Bottom-dwellers of the AL Central and the league for that matter, which ends up being the worst division in the MLB.  Mauer does play, and hits .318, but it doesn’t help the team. Ben Revere ends up taking Denard Span’s CF spot and steals 51 bases.

Kansas City Royals– Royals finish second in division with 88 wins. Eric Hosmer wins the AL MVP despite not making the playoffs. He bats: .330, 29 long-balls and 117 RBI. Mike Moustakas hits 26 home runs and Tim Collins makes the All-Star team as a setup man.

Chicago White Sox– Jake Peavy finally makes a comeback, dealing out a team-leading 14 wins. Matt Thornton finishes the season as the closer but not a good one and Konerko is the only player on the team to bat over .300.

AL East

Boston Red Sox (World Series Champs)– Mark Melancon was brought in to be a setup man but he ends up leading the club in saves (28).  Salty hits 23 home runs but Ryan Lavarnway will takeover as catcher by the end of July. Defensive prodigy Jose Iglesias gets called up and sent back down because he doesn’t know how to use a bad and Crawford is still irrelevant by the end of the season.

New York Yankees– Ivan Nova becomes the most consistent pitcher. Curtis “The Grandy Man” Granderson hits only 23 home runs while Jeter and A-rod combine for 26. Cano finishes third in MVP voting behind Hosmer and A. Gonzalez.

Toronto Blue Jays– Ricky Romero wins AL Cy Young Award, getting 227 K’s and 18 wins with 26 quality starts. Yunel Escobar hits .310 with 84 RBI and 22 steals. Kyle Drabek doesn’t make his way into the rotation either.

Tampa Bay Rays– Ben Zobrist hits 24 home runs while snatching 26 bases and he will start  games at 2B, 1B, LF, RF and DH. Desmond Jennings hits a shocking 26 HR and B.J. Upton gets traded to Houston.

Baltimore Orioles– Mark Reynolds moves to 1B, Brian Roberts comes back and Robert Andino plays most of the year at 3B. Jake Arietta wins only 9 games but has a 3.20 ERA. Adam Jones gets traded so Baltimore can stockpile on prospects… I don’t know why they want to though.

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks (Lose in World Series)– Trevor Cahill shows he misses pitching at the Coliseum and gets rocked. Ian Kennedy doesn not have the same type of season as last year. Tyler Skaggs gets promoted early and leads the team in strikeouts and ERA. Justin Upton hits 34 HR and steals 28 bases.

San Francisco Giants– Freddy Sanchez hits only .263, no one on the team hits over 23 home runs and Lincecum has a 3.49 ERA. Brian Wilson is lights out this year but he will have no save opportunities, only gets 31 saves.

Colorado Rockies– Dexter Fowler becomes a superstar. Jamie Moyer gets 13 wins, Tulowitzki wins NL MVP and Jordan Pacheco hits 24 home runs from the hot corner. Helton and Giambi both announce they will retire at end of season, freeing up first base for 3B prospect Nolan Arenado who will move to 1B.

San Diego Padres– Carlos Quentin hits only 16 home runs. Cameron Maybin leads the team with 26 bombs and 38 steals. Edinson Volquez and Corey Luebke both tie with 15 wins but the Padres still struggle.

Los Angeles Dodgers– Dee Gordon hits well over .300 but Andre Ethier becomes the team’s MVP. Ethier his .328 and knocks in 108 runs while Kemp struggles to hit 25 home runs and doesn’t even reach 100 RBI. Kershaw wins Cy Young by a landslide.

NL Central

Houston Astros– Jordan Lyles leads the team in wins with 13 and Jordan Schafer robs 23 bases. Unfortunately, a bunch of prospects get called up too early and end up having terrible numbers.

Chicago Cubs– Anthony Rizzo is a disappointment, hitting less than five home runs. Marmol gets traded along with Matt Garza (separate deals), leaving Jeff Samardzija to have the best season as a Cubs pitcher in 2012.

Cincinnati Reds– Aroldis Chapman eventually becomes the closer and strikes out over 100 as a reliever. Votto has a bad year after signing a monster contract, 20 HR and bats only .289. Chris Heisey leads the team as a platoon OF with 27 HR.

Milwaukee Brewers– Mat Gamel provides some pop with Prince Fielder gone. Braun has another 30/30 season, K-Rod gets traded and George Kottaras becomes everyday starting catcher.

Pittsburgh Pirates– McCutchen becomes elite, hitting 31 home runs and getting 34 steals, he earns the highest WAR (Wins Above Replacement). Erik Bedard doesn’t even start 21 games and James McDonald gets 197 K’s.

St. Louis Cardinals– Jon Jay has a breakout season and Wainwright gets 18 wins. David Freese loses his spot in the lineup and Matt Holliday only hits 18 homers. Jason Motte blows a bunch of saves and Fernando Salas takes over.

NL East

New York Mets– Jason Bay is back and hits 22 home runs.  David Wright knocks 19 out of the park before getting traded to the Chi-Sox in exchange for Gavin Floyd and Alexei Ramirez.

Atlanta Braves– Michael Bourn hits an abysmal .268 but still steals 59 bases and scores 99 runs. Jason Heyward stays healthy all season and knocks out 38 home runs and wins the Home Run Derby.

Miami Marlins– Hanley Ramirez is runner-up for the NL MVP Award, hitting 33 home runs and knocking in 114. Ricky Nolasco rings up 132 batters and gets 16 wins. Miami Marlins win the division. Oh yeah, Giancarlo (formerly Mike) Stanton leads the MLB with home runs, dropping 48.

Philadelphia Phillies– As Chase Utley comes back, Jimmy Rollins gets hurt, leaving Freddy Galvis in the lineup and moving him back to his natural shortstop position. Hunter Pence is the unsung hero and hits a quiet 30 home runs.

Washington Nationals– Bryce Harper is called up right after the All-Star break but is not successful in his first half-season. Ian Desmond gets traded and Strasburg gets shut down early for precautionary reasons. Washington finishes third in division.

The Kentucky Wildcats Won, Now What?

Calipari showed the country that young teams can win.

New Orleans was rocking on the evening of Monday, April 2. The most anticipated basketball game took place on this night and it was for the National Title, featuring the (1) Kentucky Wildcats and the (2) Kansas Jayhawks. The freshman clan of Kentucky not only won, but they overcame all the criticism of: being young, immature and also took on the hype of being the nation’s #1 team throughout the majority of the season. After assembling the best “team” in the nation, with a 67-59 win over Kansas, Coach John Calipari proved that he is amongst the country’s top coaches and that he is not just an NBA lottery pick generator.

Darius Miller, the lone senior, cuts down the net.

The Wildcats roster contained six freshmen, 3 of which were in the starting rotation (Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague); the additional two starters were sophomores (Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb). Not only was this team incredibly young, they did not get nearly enough credit for what they have accomplished this season. Yes, they are the best team, but they did it with young players who were used to being superstars in high school and on their AAU squads. John Calipari did a tremendous job getting these All-Americans to play as a team and to put their peers before themselves, something the Miami Heat, an NBA team can’t do.

One of the more notable growths on this Wildcat team was the maturity of sophomore forward, Terrence Jones. In his first year at Kentucky all people talked about was how he is potentially a #1 NBA draft pick and how elite he can be at the next level. Jones had some issues with not playing smart, holding the ball too much, and trying to takeover the game by himself. He and Calipari have had heated discussions resulting in benchings. Jones did not enter the draft and he went on to play another year under coach Cal. Calipari did not let up this year either; whenever Jones made a “bad” decision or wasn’t hustling, he would be sent to the bench. Terrence Jones started to come around this season and after he spent time on the bench, he became a man on a mission, exploding for crazy stat lines. Although being under an immense amount of scrutiny and getting benched and removed from games, Terrence Jones matured and came back strong; Calipari showed that he can get the best play out of his players and Terrence Jones proved that he could be a star.

The Wildcats will enjoy this win for the night, but Coach Cal has already said he will be recruiting on Friday. Assuming Anthony Davis, Marquis Teague, Terrence Jones, MKG and Doron Lamb announce whether they will be staying at Kentucky or heading to the draft. As of right now it seems as if Anthony Davis will be the #1 pick and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could be lottery picks. Point guard Marquis Teague has a chance to get drafted as a late first round pick due to scarcity of point guards in this year’s draft and Doron Lamb will also be a late first/early second round pick.

I believe Kentucky has something up their sleeve and they will contend once again for a National Title in 2013 even though they will be losing players. It is virtually a given that Anthony Davis will be declaring for the draft within the next three days. I find it very odd that the top two high school recruits are both waiting until April 11 to announce where they will be attending.  Center, Nerlens Noel (1 on ESPNU’s 100) and Small Forward, Shabazz Muhammad (2) could very well be on their way to Lexington. With the likely departures of Terrence Jones and Davis, Noel and Muhhamad would be starting right away, not to mention Calipari is one of the best recruiters throughout college sports. Noel has made it known that he just wants to get ready to play in the NBA and with Calipari’s history of producing lottery picks (Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall, Demarcus Cousins and soon-to-be Anthony Davis) I see Noel going to play for Kentucky.

Whether all of the Wildcats stay for another year, or if Noel and Muhammad play for Kentucky, or if both happen, I feel very safe in saying the Kentucky Wildcats will repeat. They have all the components of a championship team. They recruit, they play as a team, they have a remarkable coach and they handle the hype extremely well. Although the players change, the caliber of play for Kentucky remains the same.

Final Four Bound

This season, only one number one seed will be entering the Final Four; The Kentucky Wildcats. (4)Louisville, (2)Ohio State and (2)Kansas will be joining UK in the semifinals. Rick Pitino’s Cardinals will be facing John Calipari’s freshman crew on March 31^st at 6:09 ET. The Kansas Jayhawks vs. Ohio State Buckeyes game will air shortly after at 8:49 ET.

Kentucky vs. Louisville

The Louisville Cardinals has the veteran team, two of the three starting guards are upper classmen; Peyton Siva (Jr.) and Chris Smith (Sr.). Kentucky on the other hand has three freshmen in their starting lineup. With that being said, I wouldn’t exactly rule that as an advantage for Louisville because Calipari’s cats are very disciplined. Freshman sensation rarely gets in foul trouble and sophomore Terrence Jones has been playing at an unbelievable level in this tournament. There are two key matchups for this game; point guard play and interior defense. Rick Pitino (Louisville Coach) loves to run a full court press in order to get into the heads of the opponents. Freshman Marquis Teague of Kentucky will need to keep his composure and not get rattled by Peyton Siva. Siva is one of the best defending guards in the nation, his quickness and scrappiness allow him to create turnovers which leads to fast-break buckets.  Louisville has a tournament leading 29 steals and Kentucky turns it over more than it would like to, 11 turnovers per game throughout the regular season. Marquis Teague will need to play at an elite level in order to break the Louisville press.

Gorgui Dieng of Louisville has arguably been one of the best players throughout this whole tournament. He is a lanky center who came to play for Rick Pitino all the way from Senegal.  Deng has incredible instincts in the defensive paint and is a tremendous rebounder; he was the key player in the Cardinals win over Michigan State.  Dieng recorded 9 rebounds and a season-high 7 blocks against Sparty. In the elite eight match-up against Florida, Dieng did not play as big of a role. If Louisville wants a shot at winning, Dieng will have to have a presence in the paint and lock down Anthony Davis or else they can kiss their chances of a National Titles good-bye.

-I still think Kentucky wins this matchup, they are the number one seed for a reason. They have too many star players who can step their game up when someone isn’t performing. Kentucky outsizes Lousiville and I don’t think the Louisville press will bother Kentucky to the point where it costs them the game.

Ohio State vs. Kansas

It is tough to say that anyone in the tournament is playing better than Kansas. Right now, they are the epitome of “team basketball” and they are playing with a purpose. I don’t know what Coach Bill Self said to them before the tournament started but boy did it work. Everyone on this Jayhawk team is feeding off of each other; Thomas Robinson is a forced to be reckoned with, Tyshawn Taylor is playing like a lottery-pick, Elijah Johnson is shooting lights out and Jeff Whitney has turned into a shot-blocking machine. This team is clicking on all cylinders and they could very well steamroll their way into the finals.

Ohio State may have met their match. The X-factor for the Buckeyes is going to be big man DeShaun Thomas. Thomas is a crafty lefty who can put the ball on the court and has a pretty solid mid-ranger. Thomas Robinson will be locking down Jared Sullinger in an AP All-American matchu-up so Thomas will have to do the dirty work in the paint.  Aaron Craft will also need to step up big-time in this game. He is a great passer, makes his teammates better and a great on-ball defender, however, he will need to score in this game if Ohio State wants to win. You know William Buford is going to get his own, but it might not be enough to beat Kansas. Either way, this match-up should come down to the wire, both teams have been dominant all season and they will put on a show Saturday night.

– I’m taking Kansas in this one. The shooting barrage that Elijah Johnson, Tyshawn Taylor and Travis Relaford have put on display is simply impressive. Thomas Robinson has been outstanding and he will not allow Kansas to lose.  The Jayhawk roster has depth, and Ohio State lacks that. Buckeye players will all need to play the best games of their lives in order to come out of this slugfest with a W.

Pre-NBA Trade Deadline Possibilities

This year’s NBA season has been shortened via lockout. This year has been flooded with fantastic storylines such as: Jeremy Lin, Kyrie Irving bringing relevance back to Cleveland and Kobe, the masked assassin. Although there has been some not-so-great headlines, we still have the trade deadline drama and now the trade deadline has been later than ever. Tomorrow at 4:00 the teams of the NBA will no longer be able to discuss dealing players with one another. One major trade happened late last night sending Kwame Brown, Ekpe Udoh and prolific scorer, Monta Ellis to Milwaukee in exchange for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson. I expect to see a lot of movement between today and tomorrow’s deadline as teams try to add one more piece that could help them get to the post-season.

Which Teams Need One More Piece?

Minnesota Timberwolves
Key Need: Veteran Shooting Guard

Los Angeles Lakers
Key Need: Point Guard

Atlanta Hawks
Key Need: Skilled Big Man

How Can These Teams Fill These Holes?

Jamal Crawford-Minnesota is currently ninth in the Western Conference standings and they have a great nucleus of young talent. Kevin Love, Derrick Williams and Ricky Rubio played great together in the first part of the season, but earlier this week against the Lakers, Ricky Rubio went down with a torn MCL muscle. With that injury occurring, Luke Ridnour will be forced back into the starting point guard role rather than playing the 2, making Jamal Crawford a great fit in Minnesota. The T-wolves have some spotty shooters in Wayne Ellington and Wesley Johnson. Crawford could bring the ball up on offense as a backup point guard, create his own shot and also make clutch shots at the end when Kevin Love is double-teamed. Portland has made it known that Jamal Crawford is up for trade, but the price needs to be right; if the T-wolves make a trade I feel they would have to give up Ellington, and Anthony Tolliver AT LEAST. Portland also made it known that Gerald Wallace could be up for grabs, so maybe Wallace and PF/SF Michael Beasley could also be in the mix pending salary cap.

Brandon Jennings/Ramon Sessions- Derek Fisher is aging and he seems to have lost some of his greatness. The Lakers need a guy that can be a spark plug and score on his own when they can’t get it to Kobe Bryant. Milwaukee could get a lot from the Lakers and they could also give the Lakers what they want. I feel that Milwaukee needs to deal Brandon Jennings if they want to make the playoffs because I don’t see how Jennings and Monta Ellis can play without the ball, or coexist for that matter. A potential deal could involve Brandon Jennings and Drew Gooden for Pau Gasol and possibly Metta World Peace. Helping out both teams greatly. Ramon Sessions is also a possibility for the Lakers; he is a pass-first point guard and fills up the whole stat sheet. The Lakers need a guy that is willing to do the dirty work. Sessions would come cheaper, but Jennings might be the better fit. My prediction would be that Cleveland gives up Sessions and Antawn Jamison for Pau Gasol.

Chris Kaman- Trading for the second best German player in the NBA makes perfect sense for the Atlanta Hawks. Josh Smith trade talks have been looming for about as long as Rajon Rondo talks have been. I do not really understand what direction the Hornets want to take as a franchise but they could use a young super-stud in Josh Smith. If the lottery goes accordingly they could end up with the Anthony Davis who is said to be best player in next year’s draft, a hopefully healthy Eric Gordon and Josh Smith. The Hawks need a big man badly, Horford has been out with a torn pectoral muscle all season and the Hawks need more production from the interior. Ivan Johnson has stepped up his game but he is not offensively gifted and 2^nd round pick Keith Benson is not even on the active roster.  Kaman has a variety of post moves he could utilize and he is a gritty player, he will get rebounds, blocks and has the ability to kick it out when the defense collapses. Atlanta should really take a look at Chris Kaman. One possibility could be Josh Smith for Chris Kaman, Carl Landry and a draft pick.

Most Intriguing March Madness Match-ups.

March Madness is known for having mid-majors go deep into the tournament and Cinderella stories. The NCAA Election Committee did a pretty solid job on creating the most interesting scenarios. For example, Florida State and North Carolina could meet in the final four; not only is it a great ACC storyline, but will the Seminoles prove they are better than the Tar Heels once again, or will Jon Henson and Harrison Barnes redeem themselves when it counts most? The majority of the country will be on the edge of their seats from tip-off, till the final buzzer of the last game goes off. The first two rounds are pure pandemonium, anything can happen in this tourney.

Most Interesting First Round Match-ups

Baylor (3) vs. South Dakota State (14)
I am not looking for an upset here, but this game could very well go down to the wire. Not many people know of this South Dakota State Jackrabbits team, but they are one group of resilient guys. Nate Wolters is a fantastic point guard and he makes everyone on this SD State team better. Aside from Wolters, the Jackrabbits are really good from beyond the arc. Sixteenth in the country is where they finished as a team, shooting 39.3% from 3-ball. Baylor is arguably the most athletic team in the country, their size, speed, length and depth could have them going deep in this tournament.  The Bears are an unbeatable team when they get out and run with the ball, but their defensive woes cause me to scratch my head. When Baylor plays a zone there is no way you are getting to the hoop, but their coach, Scott Drew, insists they play a man which results in losing games because they can not get through the ball screens that teams throw at them. I have Baylor winning this match-up, not by much, but Baylor is a team that can either win every round or lose early on and I won’t be surprised either way. Perry Jones III should dominate against South Dakota State.

Wisconsin (4) vs. Montana (13)
I officially put the Wisconsin Badgers on upset alert. The Badgers are not good playing away from home and they are a team that lives and dies by the three. In this case, I feel that they die from the three-pointer, unfortunately eliminating them from the tournament. The one guy that might be able to save them is veteran point guard, Jordan Taylor. Taylor does not turn the ball over, hits his free-throws, and makes smart decisions, but in order to move on in the tournament he will need to score points. The Badgers only average 63 points per game and they shoot an abysmal 42%. The Montana Grizzlies have been an up-and-coming team for a while now. Wayne Tinkle is a great coach and will have this Grizzly team read to give Wisconsin their all. Montana shoots a staggering 47% from the field and averages 7 more points per game than Wisconsin. Look for junior guard Will Cherry to explode in this match-up. Will Cherry vs. Jordan Taylor could determine the outcome of this game. I have Montana upsetting Wisconsin in a last second thriller.

Kansas (2) vs. Detroit (15)
I have realized that I have mentioned the Detroit Titans a lot in my previous March Madness articles, but they deserve the recognition. I have not been impressed by Bill Self’s Jayhawks all season and Detroit is a team that I feel could upset them. The Jayhawks are not a deep team; four starters are averaging over 32 minutes a game. Detroit is very similar to the Baylor team, they are lanky, can run the floor, great defensively and can bail themselves out of a bad possession with an alley-oop. Ray McCallum gives Detroit an edge over Baylor with fantastic point guard play, and I would like to add that Kansas lost to Baylor this season. This game will be determined off the glass, whoever rebounds more will win this game. I feel the Titans are able to stop the fast, efficient offense that the Jayhawks present. Call me crazy, but I have the Horizon League Champs upsetting Kansas in a nail-biter.

Most Intriguing Second Round Possibilities

Kentucky (1) vs. Connecticut (9)
Uconn poses the biggest threat to John Calipari’s squad. If Uconn ends up beating Iowa State then they could very well go on and beat Kentucky. In this Wildcat/Huskie match-up, you have a total of 4 lottery picks (Anthony Davis and Terrence Jones for UK, Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond for Conn). The reason why this match-up is very difficult to decipher is because you have the two most athletic centers in the country and Jeremy Lamb will be able to lock-down, and vice versa. This year Connecticut lacked leadership this season, you could tell they really missed Kemba Walker. Shabazz Napier tried to take on the leader role and showed some bright spots, but he needs to know when it is crunch time, you feed the ball to Lamb. The Huskies shot themselves in the foot this season when it was crunch time; there would be instances where they were down by 4 points with 1:00 left and they would be stagnant on offense and run the clock out on themselves. Albeit all of these struggles, they still did pretty well in a tough Big East Conference, they could beat Kentucky. Calipari’s teams have been known to choke and they are very young (have one senior on the team). Anthony Davis is the most versatile player in the country but he will need help from fellow freshman, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on the glass. Although I love Uconn and I feel that they are way better than what they’ve showed this season, it is really hard for me to pick against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second round. Uconn might not even get out of the first round. Kentucky wins in a low scoring match-ups against Jim Calhoun’s squad.

Syracuse (1) vs. Kansas State (8)
The breaking news today was that Syracuse’s best defender, Fab, Melo, will not be playing in the NCAA Tournament due to ineligibility.  Syracuse is already one of the worst rebounding teams in the field of play and without Fab they will be even worse. The only regular season game ‘Cuse lost was against Notre Dame; Melo did not play. The Orange is not that deep at the center position, but still defend the perimeter with ease and can generate offense in a numerous amount of ways. James Southerland needs to step up and find his rhythm early for Syracuse to succeed. On the other hand, Coach Frank Martin, always has his kids prepared for big games. From an athletic perspective, Kansas State matchups up favorably with ‘Cuse. Jordan Henriquez is a lanky, shot-blocking center who will be able to hold down the paint along with Jamar Samuels. Will Spradling and Rodney McGruder are two quick, defensive guards who will be able to force Scoop Jardine to turn the ball over.  I am being conservative in this selection by taking Syracuse. I just feel like Kansas State will be worrying about the matchup against the Orange and could fall to Southern Miss.

My Bracket:

Why Missouri Wins

I feel that the Tigers got robbed and should have been awarded a 1 seed. They are my favorite to win it all; this was the most efficient team in the country and they have a number of player combinations they can throw at you. The Tigers shoot 50% from the field and they can wear you out by swinging the ball back-and-forth. The dribble-drive penetration by the guards is outstanding, then, they kick it back out and nail the three-ball 39.5% of the time. Kim English is a fantastic leader and first year head coach, Frank Haith has had his team bringing their A-game all year long. Mizzou lost their leading rebounder in Lawrence Bowers due to a torn ACL, but they just keep finding ways to win. I don’t sense anyone beating Missouri mainly because of the versatility of the team as a whole; when Frank Haith puts out his four-guard lineup (Kim English, Marcus Denmon, Matt Pressey, Phil Pressey). There isn’t any  team in the nation can match-up with that speed and efficiency. The Missouri Tigers will have proven once again that they deserved to be a number 1 seed, they will be the National Champions.

NFL Free Agency Preview

As of 4:00 pm ET on Tuesday, March 13, there will be an event taking place in the NFL known as the free agent frenzy. As soon as the clock strikes 4:00, NFL teams will be able to negotiate, work-out and sign players. Lets take a look of what faces (other than Peyton Manning) can be seen in new places come the start of the 2012-2013 season.

Mario Williams-DE-Former Houston Texan

Front-runner: New England Patriots
Keep an eye on: Jacksonville Jaguars

Super Mario started out the season doing really well at OLB. He is formerly the number one overall pick and he emerged into one of the game’s top pass-rushers right away. Williams was drafted as a defensive end and was ferocious at that position, last season Wade Phillips moved him to OLB and he adjusted with ease before tearing his pectoral muscle. There is no major concern, Williams is expected to be 100% and he should be the free agent who cashes in the most because he is an elite pass rusher. The Patriots have presumed to be the top team in need of a die-hard pass rusher and I’m sure Williams would love to play for Belicheck. The only thing I can think of that will prevent this signing from happening is the fact that Robert Kraft does not pay people a lot of money; they just franchise tagged Wes Welker and they look like they will be bringing in Brandon Lloyd, so how much money are they willing to dole out? As for the Jaguars, there isn’t much to say because quite frankly, it is the Jaguars. However, they are under a new owner whom wants to make an immediate impact and they desperately need a pass rusher. If they end up signing Mario Williams and still bring in Quinton Coples (DE from UNC), that defense could wreak havoc in the AFC South.

Vincent Jackson-WR- Former San Diego Charger

Front-runner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Keep an eye on: Washington Redskins
Vincent Jackson is easily one of the best deep ball wide receivers in the game. Jackson is big, soft hands, doesn’t shy away from tackles and he can leap over corners. Jackson will be one of the highest paid wide receivers in the NFL after this offseason and I anticipate that many teams will be in contact with him. The Tampa Bay Bucs need a deep ball threat; they didn’t get any production out of their WR last season. Josh Freeman has a cannon but can’t show it because the current wide receivers cannot create separation, he is constantly being forced to try and throw the needle (which is not one of his strengths). Also, LeGarrette Blount is a great power back that can wear down the defense, but you can’t run the ball when you are down 30 points. If Jackson signs with Tampa, they could live off of the play-action pass and then that opens the playbook even more. There is no reason Tampa shouldn’t sign him, young-franchise QB, passionate coach,  and they have a lot of money to play with (second most behind KC). The Washington Redskins just made a franchise-changing trade that makes it seem as if they will take Robert Griffin III (QB-Baylor) in the draft and build the team around him. Griffin is a crazy athletic play-maker. In recent years the Redskins have won the “off-season” Super Bowls with acquisitions like: Albert Haynesworth, Santana Moss, Deangelo Hall and Oshiomogho “O.J.” Atogwe. Look for the Redskins to get more talent in order to compete in a wild NFC East.

Carl Nicks-G-Former New Orleans Saint

Front-Runner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Keep an eye on: Chicago Bears
The Buccaneers reportedly made a position change today according to Rotoworld.com; they said they will be moving guard Jeremy Zuttah to the center position.  As I said earlier, they Bucs have a great amount of money to play with so look for them to get at least one big star this offseason. By moving Zuttah from G to C, they will be in dire need of a left guard and Carl Nicks is the best. Before the franchise-tagging period ended, Carl Nicks came out and said he would like a deal similar to the contract of former teammate Jahri Evans. Nicks is arguably the best guard in the NFL, he is great at both pass and run blocking, amazing footwork and just great instinct when he pulls, he always manages to put defenders wherever he wants them. The Chicago Bears also need help in the trenches. Cutler has gotten molliwopped in the past and you can’t afford to lose franchise running back Matt Forte again. With rookie Gabe Carimi coming off injury at the tackle position, Nicks could help that line tremendously, especially in a division where you are facing Jared Allen and Ndamukong Suh a combined 4 times a season.

Cortland Finnegan-CB-Former Tennessee Titan

Front-runner: Detroit Lions
Keep an eye on: Dallas Cowboys
Cortland Finnegan is a small but mean-spirited corner. If there is one person in the National Football League that has Napoleon syndrome, it is Finnegan. One of his most memorable moments happened when the Tennessee Titans were facing the Houston Texans, Finnegan and All-pro WR Andre Johnson were going at it all game and right at the snap of the ball, a hockey-type fight broke out.  Aside from his intensity on the field, this pro-bowler does not have off the field issues and he is great at what he does. Finnegan is fantastic in press coverage, can get to the QB when he is told to blitz and most importantly, he gets under the skin of the best wide receiver in the league, which usually leads to them being shut down. The Detroit Lions are a team that has swagger and as of today (March 12,2012), DT Ndamukong Suh, restructured his deal. Finnegan fits the mold of a Jim Schwartz player; he plays with passion, won’t beat himself and always has a chip on his shoulder. The Detroit Lions’ defensive backfield needs to be re-built, the only guy worth mentioning is safety Louis Delmas. Finnegan would be a great asset and they could pick up another guy in the draft. Detroit needs to focus on this cornerback whole-heartedly because they cannot afford to miss out on him. If he does not end up going to Detroit look for him to go to Dallas. The Cowboys defense suffered many late-game collapses last season and they have been injury-riddled in the back four. Finnegan would solidify the cornerback position with durability as well as productivity. Jerry Jones will most likely make either Finnegan or Brandon Carr a generous offer.

Other Notable Players with Possible Fits

Pos./ Player/ Favored Destination

QB-Matt Flynn-Miami Dolphins
RB-Michael Bush-Cincinnati Bengals
RB-Brandon Jacobs-Tennessee Titans
WR-Marques Colston-San Francisco 49ers
WR-Brandon Lloyd-New England Patriots
WR-Robert Meachem-Chicago Bears
WR-Mario Manningham-Cleveland Browns
DT-Paul Soliai-Houston Texans
DT-Brodrick Bunkley-Seattle Seahawks
CB-Tracy Porter-St. Louis Rams
SS-LaRon Landry-Chicago Bears

Which Players are Teams Trying to Avoid in March Madness?

The NCAA Tourney known as “March Madness,” is arguably the most electrifying series of events in sports. Even people that don’t watch sports tune into the tournament; there are so many great stories of players, mid-majors upsetting top schools and the fan favorite- Cinderella story. There is no science behind predicting which team will win March Madness; it all depends on the matchups, location of the game (neutral site for the most part) and what team gets hot at the right time. As we’ve seen in the past, one player can carry a team deep into the tournament (Stephen Curry out of Davidson in 2008, BYU’s Jimmer Fredette and Connecticut’s Kemba Walker in 2011). Lets take a look at what players teams want to stay away from facing in the tournament.

1.Anthony Davis- Kentucky- C
Davis is another Calipari product who is projected a lottery pick. He stands in at 6’10, 220 and is a freak of nature. His lanky body matched up with his quickness and intelligence is a nightmare for opposing offense. Only a freshman, yet he is still breaking records. Davis recently passed Shaq for #1 all-time on the fresman SEC blocks list  (146 + how many he gets in SEC tourney).  The 19 year-old handles like a guard, yes that phrase is tossed around a lot but I really mean this. Davis played guard throughout his childhood all the way up until high school then he had a 7-inch growth spurt in one year. Teams want to stay away from him because he can score from anywhere on the hardwood, run the floor better than any center, and can single handedly screw up a team’s offensive game plan; oh yeah, I forgot to mention he is a finalist for the National Player of the Year Award. I expect him and freshman Terrence Jones to carry the Wildcats deep into the tournament. 

Season Stats
PPG-14.4
RPG-9.8
SPG-1.4
BPG-4.7
2.Doug McDermott-Creighton-F
I like to call him the “Baby-faced Assassin”. McDermott is a classy kid who has a play style similar to Kevin Love’s and he is the main reason why Creighton was ranked in the top 25 throughout the season. Although he is only listed at 6’7 he is a terrific rebounder and has great anticipation of where the ball will land off the glass. McDermott is very hard on himself and knows what he needs to do in order to win. The Creighton Blue Jay touches the ball on every possession, has a tremendous amount of post-game moves and can step-back and shoot from beyond the arc. Maybe he plays better because his father is the coach (Greg McDermott), but he is always the hardest working player on the court and he has ice in his veins. Teams want to stay away from Doug because: he doesn’t think losing is an option, there is a zero percent chance he lets Creighton beats themselves, he can control the game through rebounds as well as scoring and he can beat you without even needing to touch the ball by clearing lanes and making hustle plays.

Season Stats
PPG-23.2
RPG-8.2
3-Pointers- 49.5%
Free-Throw-80%

3.Ray McCallum- Detroit-PG
Many of you must be saying, “Detroit has a basketball team? I didn’t even know”, but beware, they are a great squad and this kid Ray McCallum can straight up ball.  McCallum, like McDermott also plays for his father who shares the name, Ray McCallum. The younger McCallum was the sole leader of the Detroit Titans and he carried the team to a Horizon League Title, securing an automatic bid for March Madness. Last summer, the Horizon Tournament MVP attended both the Deron Williams Skills Academy and the LeBron James Skill Camp. I’ve had my eye on the Detroit Titans all season, they are a potential sleeper, but McCallum has elevated his game and I bet you that no team wants to face them. He makes all the right decisions, shares the rock, is a great free-throw shooter and is a great on-ball defender. When the lights are on, Ray shows up big-time, he averaged nearly 24 points per game in the Horizon League Tournament, look for him to mimic that in the big dance. McCallum is only a sophomore but plays like a senior, he will keep the Titans composed and he can slow down or speed up the tempo if need be. McCallum puts Detroit on upset alert for the Tourney, God bless whoever has to face them.

Season Stats
PPG-15.6
RPG-4.5
APG-3.9
SPG (Steals)-1.5

4.Nate Wolters-South Dakota State-G
Once again we are going with a small school player for this list. This time, it is junior Nate Wolters out of SDSU, who is one crazy basketball player. He has started every game in his career for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. Wolters is a 6’4 athlete who has been playing point guard all season for SDSU, he is great at shooting off of the dribble. No speed is too fast for this guy; he can change gears at any given moment, slash, and make layups through the contact. Wolters can create for his teammates-which seems to be a lost art in todays day and age for point guards. This All-Summit Team player won’t let you down when it is crunch time and he will not commit costly turnovers. Also, he does a lot of things that do not show up on the stat sheet: he coaches his teammates, makes them better, hustles for loose balls, does not commit “stupid” fouls and he has a great understanding of the game. South Dakota State be seeded low in the tournament (I anticipate a 10/11 seed), and they may not be a team that will pull of a major upset, but, Nate Wolters will but up a fight and give his opponents a run for their money.

Season Stats
PPG-21.3
RPG-5.2
APG-6.0
MPG (Minutes)- 35.7
FTA (Free-throw Attempts)-7.1

Also Keep an Eye Out For:
Cody Zeller-PF-Indiana
Isaiah Canaan-G-Murray State
John Jenkins-SG-Vanderbilt

Mock Draft 2.0 (Pre-Free Agency, Pre-Pro Day)

The draft is about a month and a half away and free agency does not start till next week, however, it is never a bad time for a mock. This draft does not include free agency signings and player’s stock could rise or drop due to college pro-days that will take place over the course of this month. It still looks like Andrew Luck will be the number one overall pick but there have been many changes and new players added since Mock Draft 1.0.

1.Indianapolis Colts-Andrew Luck-QB-Stanford
It is inevitable, Andrew Luck is going first overall. The most highly touted NFL QB prospect since John Elway. Luck has everything; arm strength, accuracy, instinct, knowledge of the game (Father ex-NFL QB), desire to win and he can be the face of a franchise that needs to move on.

2.Washington Redskins-Robert Griffin III-QB-Baylor
Many signs lead to feeling that the Redskins will move up ahead of the Browns to acquire the biggest playmaker in the draft. They should put together a big enough package to swap picks with the Rams (Maybe this year’s 1^st/4^th round picks and a 2^nd round pick next year). Shanahan has built some pretty darn good teams with versatile QB’s. Griffin could bring life to the nation’s capital and Daniel Snyder said he is going to bring in a top free agent WR. All signs point to RG3.

3.Minnesota Vikings-Matt Kalil-OT-USC
Christian Ponder and Joe Webb got pounded last year; Ponder was sacked 30 times alone. The Vikings biggest need is protection to keep their QB alive and to help AP continue his success. LG Steve Hutchinson is 34 and wearing down, the only other lineman worth mentioning is Phil Loadholt. The USC tackle has great strength, can stand up defenders and can pancake blitzers. Matt Kalil is the best LT coming out since Joe Thomas and he has good genes (brother of CAR C Ryan Kalil).

4.Cleveland Browns-Morris Claiborne-CB-LSU
Claiborne is one of the many defensive superstars to come out of LSU. He will have an immediate impact playing on the opposite side of former top 10 pick Joe Haden. It could make sense for the Browns to select Justin Blackmon but CLE has tried drafting offensive playmakers in the past (Hardesty, Little, Robiske and injury-riddled Massaquoi). Claiborne seems like the safest pick and he improves an already adequate defense.

5.Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Luke Kuechly-LB-Boston College
Historically middle linebackers do not go top 10. Ex-Boston College MLB Mark Herzlich was projected as a top 10 pick back in ’08 before being diagnosed with cancer. The last MLB taken in the top 10 was Rolando McClain 8^th overall to Oakland. Tampa Bay has drafted many front seven defenders in the past 3 years (McCoy, Bowers, Clayborn). However, they lost their tackling machine, Barrett Ruud, due to free agency before last season and they struggled without him. Kuechly shows great instinct on the field, can lead a defense, has a nose for the ball carrier and rarely misses tackle. He had a solid combine but didn’t shock anyone in the drills, Kuechly is a great fit and the Bucs will regret it quickly if they pass on him.

6.St. Louis Rams-Justin Blackmon-WR-Oklahoma State
Blackmon is a 2-time Biletnikoff Award winner (nation’s top receiver). I watched many of the games Blackmon played as an OK St Cowboy and he is a baller. He runs well, creates separation, has great hands and is terrific after the catch. The Rams might be losing free agent Brandon Lloyd and Sam Bradford needs a target, Blackmon is a great fit. Blackmon is light years ahead of the rest of his wide receiver class and he could start as the number 1 wideout easily.

7.Jacksonville Jaguars-Quinton Coples-DE-North Carolina
Quinton Coples draws comparisons to Julius Peppers and rightfully so. Coples is 6’6/284 and was a top defensive lineman in his stint with UNC. As a Tar Heel, Coples learned to contain the RB and stop the run, he also has great explosiveness and can get to the QB. With an arm length of 36 inches he can bat down balls at the line of scrimmage. The Jags would love to see Coples available especially with aging Aaron Kampman, needless to say, they desperately need a pass rusher alongside those two young defensive tackles.

8.Miami Dolphins-Michael Brockers-DT-LSU
It does not look like the Dolphins are going to get Paul Solail back and it seems as if they will be bringing in a QB named Matt Flynn. With that being said, they need to address the defensive tackle position. Michael Brockers is a great DT to fit the Dolphins defense now run by Kevin Coyle. Brockers is 6’5 and 322, can bring down running backs with ease and can get past the offensive lineman in a variety of ways. He will be a great attribute to the defensive unit right of the back.

9.Carolina Panthers-Dontari Poe-DT/NT-Memphis
Poe is easily the biggest risk in the first round but he opened eyes at the combine. At the NFL scouting combine Poe weighed in at 346 lbs and managed to run an impressive 4.98 forty time along with muscling out 44 reps on the bench press. This is a high risk/ high reward situation but he could anchor that 3-4 defense for the Panthers and they can finally stop letting up so many points.

10.Buffalo Bills-Melvin Ingram-DE/OLB-South Carolina
Melvin Ingram wowed scouts at the combine and he has solidified his spot as a first round pick. The Bills have made it clear that they will switch to a 4-3 defense, Ingram would be a great edge rusher at the DE position. Ingram played DE, DT and OLB at South Carolina, being productive at each position. Ingram has a high motor, can recognize plays well and is a big body who can get to the QB.

11.Kansas City Chiefs-Trent Richardson-RB-Alabama
I really like Trent Richardson, but with the way that the NFL is a pass-happy league I don’t see him going top ten. Jackie Battle said he will hit the open market because he wants to fill a bigger role. Jamaal Charles and Trent Richardson could be a scary tandem and it is the perfect balance of speed and power. Richardson is the best RB in the draft and displays power, speed, hands and vision.

12.Seattle Seahawks-Nick Perry-DE/OLB-USC
The Seahawks need to increase their pass-rush and what better way to go about that by taking a DE/OLB hybrid out of the PAC-12. Perry can rush the QB from the DE position or move back to a blitzing OLB. He is raw and has some learning to do but Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll recruited Perry when he was coach at Southern Cal. Carroll could have a lot of fun implementing Perry into different packages.

13.Arizona Cardinals– Riley Reiff-OT-Iowa
Offensive line was the Cardinals biggest need going into the offseason. Levi Brown is a free agent and the two could not agree on a contract, so now offensive line is an even bigger need. Riley Reiff is coming out of Iowa so you know he is well coached and he exhibited brute strength throughout the season. Reiff has great footwork and showed the ability to standup defenders, the Cardinals will be pleased to get him.

14.Dallas Cowboys-Dre Kirkpatrick-CB-Alabama
Many of the fourth quarter collapses were because of inconsistent pass defense. Kirkpatrick is a huge corner at 6’3 but he is great in press and in zone and he is a very impressive tackler for a cornerback. Newman is overpaid and Kirkpatrick could take his spot if drafted.

15.Philadelphia Eagles-Dont’a Hightower-LB-Alabama
Philadelphia’s was hurting up the middle over the season. Dont’a Hightower has great instinct and is a mean tackler. Saban used to rave about him at Alabama and we can see why, he just gets the game of football.

16.New York Jets-Michael Floyd-WR-Notre Dame
Plax is a free agent and Santonio Holmes underachieved last season. Floyd had the best all-around combine for WR’s and he is a fast, physical WR with great hands and concentration. Mark Sanchez may only have one more shot to be the starting QB, but Michael Floyd would make him look great.

17.Cincinnati Bengals-Janoris Jenkins-CB-University Northern Alabama
With all of the off-field baggage and attitude problems put aside, Janoris Jenkins is giving Morris Claiborne a run for his money as the top CB taken. He is a great in man coverage and has huge playmaking ability. Owner Mike Brown has no trouble in drafting questionable character guys (Carlos Dunlap, Jerome Simpson, Chris Henry). Jenkins is a steal at the 17^th pick.

18.San Diego Chargers-David DeCastro-OG-Stanford
With Dielman retiring because of a concussion, a mediocre offensive line just got a little bit worse. David DeCastro is the draft’s top guard, he is fundamentally sound, stays out of trouble and could be a perennial Pro-Bowler.

19.Chicago Bears-Cordy Glenn-OG-Georgia
Last year the Bears drafted Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi with their first pick but they still need to improve that line. Cordy Glenn is a big guy with a lot of upper body strength and if WR Michael Floyd is off the board I full expect Chi-town to take a lineman to protect Cutler.

20.Tennessee Titans-Courtney Upshaw-OLB/DE-Alabama
Many scouts and I feel every team has a spot for Courtney Upshaw. I firmly believe that he can move to DE and have his presence be known around the league. Although he had a bad combine, his instincts and on-field impact has been taken note of throughout the college season. Upshaw would fit nicely in the Titans defense. Upshaw has great play recognition, hits hard and has been known to make dinner reservations in the backfield with opposing running backs; this could be good considering he might be facing MJD and Arian Foster twice a year.

21. Cincinnati Bengals-Lamar Miller-RB-Miami
The Bengals biggest offensive need is a speed back. Lamar Miller has Chris Johnson type speed and can run either between the tackles or bounce it outside. This Miami product would be a great complimentary back to Cedric Benson and he will add to the young talent on the Cincinnati offense.

22.Cleveland Browns– Ryan Tannehill-QB-Texas A & M
I feel the browns could go WR with this pick but with the uncertainty of Colt McCoy’s injury status and his ability to lead a team to victories, I feel the Browns HAVE to take Tannehill if he is on the board. Tannehill has tremendous upside and can be a great playmaker on the Cleveland Browns. He only started at QB for one season as an Aggie but was the starting slot receiver his fresh/soph year. We did not see Tannehill at the combine because he broke his foot but I expect him to excel in his pro-day workout and he could be the west coast QB that Cleveland is looking for.

23.Detroit Lions-Stephon Gilmore-CB-South Carolina
The Lions are on the up and up but they need to solidify their defensive backfield. Stephon Gilmore is fundamentally sound and has a high IQ. He covered the top corners in the SEC: 2 years ago AJ Green and Julio Jones, Reuben Randle of LSU. Gilmore is not afraid of the bump and run and he is a tremendous tackler, all around great talent.

24.Pittsburgh Steelers-Kendall Reyes-DT-Connecticut
Reyes is a 299-pound defensive lineman. The Steelers are in a world of hurt with their salary cap issues and the aging of their team. Casey Hampton will be 35 next season and could start the season on the PUP (ACL injury). Reyes lacks body fat and has great awareness, he is strong and can also play the 3-technique.

25.Denver Broncos-Stephen Hill-WR-Georgia Tech
Tim Tebow needs more help than the option game in Denver. I would consider Eddie Royal a bust thus far in his career. Eric Decker is more of a slot receiver but Demaryius Thomas started coming into his own last season. The Broncos need a viable number two receiver: Stephen Hill is 6’4, 215 and ran a 4.36 at the combine. Hill, like Demaryius Thomas, is a Georgia Tech product. He can stretch the field, catch away from his body and he is a very good blocker, which Denver coach John Fox loves.

26.Houston Texans-Brock Osweiler-QB-Arizona State
This is my bold prediction of the draft but hear me out. Matt Schaub is 30 years old and only has played 16 games in two seasons with the Texans. The Texans’ biggest needs are WR and DT, which can be assessed in the later rounds. Yates is not a franchise quarterback and the Texans still made the playoffs due do defense and run game. Under the new CBA the Texans wouldn’t have to pay Osweiler the amount of money first round QBs used to get. Osweiler would be a good project for Gary Kubiak to work with, he has a cannon, he is 6’8, great in play action and has a great balance between velocity and accuracy. If you have a chance to take a potential star late in the first round you do it.

27.New England Patriots-Whitney Mercilus-DE-Illinois
The Patriots need pass rushing ability, they had great production from Mark Anderson and Andre Carter but they need to draft some defense. Mercilus is vicious at the defensive end position, he lead the nation in sacks and forced fumbles in 2011. He has a ton of pass-rush moves in his repertoire and has great ability to track down halfbacks.

28.Green Bay Packers-Jared Crick-DE/DT-Nebraska
Crick is one of those guys that just seems like he would be a great fit in Green Bay. He is a rugged player who can get to the QB and bowl over offensive lineman. Crick’s senior season was shortened by a torn pectoral muscle; he still ended up 8^th on Nebraska’s all-time sack list. Crick is a power lineman and could play defensive end for the Packers.

29.Baltimore Ravens-Peter Konz-C-Wisconsin
With Matt Birk heading towards the end of his career the Raven’s desperately need a center. Not many centers are taken in the first round, only 3 in the past 6 years (The Pounceys and Alex Mack). Konz is just another great lineman to come out of Wisconsin; he is well coached and has his head on straight. Konz uses all of his 315 lbs. to his advantage and he can push back DTs. This prospect is great in both pass blocking and run blocking, there aren’t many noticeable improvements that need to be made in order to play at the next level; he will only get better.

30.San Francisco 49ers-Alshon Jeffery-WR-South Carolina
Keep in mind this is a pre-free agency mock draft. As of right now San Fran desperately needs a red zone threat at the WR position. Jeffery is a big body who can break the press coverage and leap of corners. With no history of major injuries and no off-the-field issues Jeffery would be a great pick for the Niners. He is a potential #1 WR.

31.New England Patriots-Mark Barron-S-Alabama
The safety class this year is thin, just like it always is. Mark Barron is easily the best safety, the Patriots would be lucky if they have a shot to draft this guy just because he might go earlier because of the lack of safeties. Barron played under Nick Saban at Alabama and has great instinct. He is physically gifted and make adjustments on the fly. 5 years from now we will still be saying he was the best safety in the draft.

32.New York Giants-Orson Charles-TE-Georgia
Tom Coughlin said he wants the team to go out and get a tight end. Orson Charles would be a great pick for the Giants. This John Mackey Award finalist is measured at 6’3, 241 and he can move. He is probably the most balanced TE in the draft and he is great at going up and getting the ball. Charles fits the Giant mold by playing defensively mind (tough and not afraid of anything) and he has a great work ethic.

2012 NFL Mock Draft-Version 1.0

1-Indianapolis Colts-Andrew Luck-QB-Stanford
It’s a given. There are many uncertainties in Indy beginning with Peyton’s health/future, C Jeff Saturday pondering retirement, the Polian’s gone and head coach Jim Caldwell getting fired. But Luck being a Colt seems to be a lock. There are some people that question Luck’s future as an NFL quarterback but this kid is a flat out brain surgeon on the field. Mr. Luck takes a look at the defense; adjusts the offensive line, recognizes blitzers, discovers the coverage and then he receives the snap. Luck was deadly accurate with the ball, completing 71.3% of his passes at Stanford and recording 37 touchdowns in his junior season. Andrew Luck is an intelligent, enthusiastic young man who provides leadership. He is the perfect guy to be the next face of the Colts franchise.

2-St. Louis Rams-Matt Kalil-OT-USC
The Rams have struggled in the past protecting the QB. Jason Smith was a top draft pick a few years back who hasn’t panned out for the Rams. Kalil could improve this line immediately. Bradford has had no time to survey the field and Kalil would definitely help him feel more comfortable in the pocket.

3-Minnesota Vikings-[Trades with Dolphins, Dolphins-Robert Griffin-QB-Baylor]
This is where the draft will begin to get interesting. If Minnesota keeps the pick and Blackmon is on the board, I feel the Vikings take WR Justin Blackmon. I firmly believe that Minnesota works out a deal with Miami in order for Miami to jump up to get RG3. Minnesota has a history with Miami players, years ago the Vikings traded for WR Greg Camarillo and they have also obtained former Dolphins Benny Sapp and Sage Rosenfels. It makes perfect sense for The Vikings to trade back and get more picks or maybe even squeeze a WR like Brian Hartline out of the deal.

4-Cleveland Browns-Trent Richardson-RB-Alabama
The Browns have many needs and have many question marks. If they are lucky enough they could land RG3 if no one trades up, but I do not see that happening. Peyton Hillis is a free agent and it doesn’t look like he will be returning, therefore I see the Browns taking the only franchise running back in the draft- Trent Richardson. Richardson has an amazing combination of power, speed, balance and hands. He is the real deal. Richardson could have an impact right away in Cleveland.

5-Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Luke Kuechly-LB-Boston College
Kuechly is the top middle linebacker for this draft class. Great instincts, tackling machine, smart kid and can help any team. Tampa Bay will be the earliest he gets drafted. Kuechly averaged nearly 16 tackles a game. The BC backer recorded 191 tackles (102 solo). He looks like he will translate into a great linebacker in the NFL.

6-Washington Redskins-Morris Claiborne-CB-LSU
The Redskins are in a tough spot, they have the number six pick but that might be too late in order to get a QB they want. Recently drafting Roy Helu, Trent Williams and Leonard Hankserson I expect the Redskins to go defense; especially with the age of their Cb’s and the expiring contract of Phillip Buchannon.

7-Jacksonville Jaguars-Justin Blackmon-WR-Oklahoma State
Jacksonville needs to give Gabbert another option than MJD. Blackmon is an amazing all around WR. He is a great character guy who just wants to win, he can catch, run, jump, break tackles and block. The only player I can think of that Blackmon is comparable to is Terrell Owens minus the attitude issues. Blackmon has a crazy skill set and could be a bright spot for the Jags and help them get some W’s. They have their franchise QB and RB, now they need to get another offensive player to complete it. I believe they are a couple players away from the playoffs and Blackmon would definitely help.

8-Carolina Panthers-Dre Kirkpatrick-CB-Alabama
Panthers stuggled on defense and have their offense set minus a couple small pieces. Kirkpatrick seems like a perfect fit and he can be the main guy on that third level of defense. They have Charles Johnson at DE, Jon Beason and Thomas Davis. Kirkpatrick can help bring that defense together. He’s a terrific cover corner, great tackler and is a big corner at 6’3 200 lbs.

9-Miami Dolphins-[Trade With Vikings, Vikings-Riley Reiff-OT-Iowa]
If the Dolphins don’t end up trading to get RG3 I believe they will take OT Riley Reiff out of Iowa. Griffin could be the final piece to the offensive puzzle down in Miami. Griffin and Bush could run the option, which seems to be making a comeback in the NFL and RG3 has remarkable accuracy deep down the field so he will be able to keep Brandon Marshall happy. If the Vikings end up with this pick I expect them to take Riley Reiff also.

10-Buffalo Bills-Melvin Ingram-DE/OLB-South Carolina
Ingram can be a surprise pick at the number 10 spot but he will fit the 3-4 defense that the Bills run perfectly. Ingram is one of those hybrid players that can play OLB in a 3-4 or DE in a 4-3. Ingram has great pass rushing instincts and the Bills need a guy to get to the QB.

11-Kansas City Chiefs-Devon Still-DT-Penn State
Still is the best 3-4 nose tackle in this game and it makes sense for the Chiefs to take him. Kelly Gregg is 35 and the Chiefs are lacking DT and Still is huge at 6’5, 310. Still is a guy that can fill the gaps and he will help a Chiefs defense that is up and coming.

12-Seattle Seahawks-Quinton Coples-DE-UNC
Besides Luck, Coples might be the best value pick if he’s still sitting there at 12. The Seahawks have begun to build a very solid, young team. They’ve brought in Baldwin, Okung, Lynch, Sherman, Browner, Hawthorne and S Earl Thomas. Coples is a great 4-3 defensive end, can make solo tackles and gets to the QB quick. The Seahawks main question mark is at QB, unfortunately that cannot be assessed at the no. 12 pick. The Seahawks will increase their depth on defense with this pick.

13-Arizona Cardinals-Jonathan Martin-OT-Stanford
It is uncharacteristic for Arizona to draft a offensive lineman early. In fact, they haven’t drafted an offensive lineman before the fifth round since ’07. Martin can help protect whoever is quarterbacking for them: he is of good size, strength and smart. He will slide right into a starting spot and help out immediately.

14-Dallas Cowboys-Whitney Mercilus-DE-Illinois
This end is “Mercilus” when rushing the Qb. He might be a little bit on the small side for a 3-4 DE but I still feel he could fit in the Cowboys defensive scheme. Lineman tend to go early in these drafts and this year should be no difference, with the combine and workouts, Mercilus’ stock should only rise.

15-Philadelphia Eagles-Courtney Upshaw-OLB-Alabama
The Eagles are VERY thin at the linebacker position. Upshaw is a great 3-4 pass rushing OLB and if Kuechly is off the board expect the Eagles to land Upshaw. He played in the SEC so you know he could tackle the best of the best in college and he has big play potential on defense. He can catch, strip, tackle and sack. This player is going to be great.

16-New York Jets-Michael Floyd-WR-Notre Dame
Both Plax and Santonio could be out in New York. Rookie Jeremy Kerley out of TCU had very little production and 2-4 leading receivers for the Jets were Ladanian Tomlinson and Dustin Keller. Floyd is a big WR with speed and soft hands. He could definitely help this team get back on track.

17-Cincinnati Bengals (From Oakland)-Alfonzo Dennard-CB-Nebraska
After losing Jonathan Joseph to free agency and Leon Hall to injury the Bengals defense still managed to be one of the top in the league. Nate Clements is aging and Dennard is a physical corner who is great in coverage and in the run game. He fits in Mike Zimmer’s defense nicely.

18-San Diego Chargers-David DeCastro-G-Stanford
The Chargers were a disappointment this past year and they faced many offensive line injuries. Look for them to increase the talent on the line with David DeCastro. DeCastro is a tremendous run blocker and had a great career at Stanford.

19-Chicago Bears–Cordy Glenn-G-Georgia
Glenn played in the SEC and went up against some of the best pass rushers in the nation. Year-in and year-out the Bears offensive line has struggled, last year they drafted OT Gabe Carimi. This year expect them to take Glenn who is a big guard, but can also play OT if need be.

20-Tennessee Titans-Nick Perry-DE-USC
Perry is a 4-3 pass rusher. He has great instincts and gets to the QB by any means necessary. The Titans were 31^st in the league in sacks with only 28. Perry is a bit scrawny, but that doesn’t stop him from getting to the QB.

21-Cincinnati Bengals-Lamar Miller-RB-Miami
The Bengals having two first round picks allow them to possibly take a chance on a playmaker. Lamar Miller is a quick back with homerun potential. He can catch in the passing game, run between the tackles, and he can turn the corner. He would be a great complimentary back to Cedric Benson.

22-Cleveland Browns (From Atlanta)-Kendall Wright-WR-Baylor
The Browns might miss out on Baylor QB RG3, but his main target should still be sitting there at 22. Kendall Wright Is 5’10 and has a knack for getting open. The Browns lack big play threats and the WR corps has been decimated by injury in the past. Wright is great after the catch, and can blow by almost any corner.

23-Detroit Lions-Stephon Gilmore-CB-South Carolina
In recent drafts, the Lions front office have put together a great group of guys and have lined them up for success. The Lions’ defensive backfield is probably the weakest part of that team. Other then FS Louis Delmas the DB’s could use some help. Gilmore is a great all-around CB who has a high football IQ and he is great at stopping the underneath routes (which could help against divisional opponents GB and Chi).

24-Pittsburgh Steelers-Kelechi Osemele-OT-Iowa State
Pittsburgh has had some line issues lately. Players have played out of position, injuries have occurred and as a result of all this, Big Ben got whacked. Osemele is a great prospect at tackle who stands at 6’5, 335 and has potential to be the best tackle out of this draft.

25-Denver Broncos-Dontari Poe-DT-Memphis
With the 25^th pick in this draft the Broncos will probably try to take one of Tim Tebow‘s disciples. Actually, in all seriousness, the Broncos need to bulk up that defense and could use a big body like Dontari Poe. Poe is a massive DT who fits into the 3-4 scheme that the Broncos run. Poe can occupy the center as well as other blockers, which frees up space so Dumervil and Miller can destroy the QB.

26-Houston Texans-Michael Brockers-DT-LSU
Brockers is huge. Listed as 6’6, 306, Wade Phillips would love to have him on that Texan defense. The Texans are pretty complete so they could very well just take the top player off the board, but Brockers is a great fit and he is great in stopping the run as well as his pass attack. He has quick hands and a nose for the football.

27-New England Patriots (From Saints)-Mark Barron-S-Alabama
New England is usually a team that always trades back, however, they desperately need help on defense. With possibility of McCourty moving to FS, the Patriots could increase their defensive backfield by taking the best safety in the draft. Mark Barron is a hard-hitting safety who has big game experience. Barron is great at reading the QB and is a ball hawk. The Patriots could really use him.

28-Green Bay Packers-Jared Crick-DE-Nebraska
As the 2011 season showed, the Packers’ defense is weak. Crick is big enough where he can play DT if needed but will be great at stopping the run at DE. He missed most of the 2011 season at Nebraska due to a torn pectoral muscle. Crick is one of those guys that opposing Qb’s note where he is before the snap, he stands up pass blockers and can get down the line on a run play. He’s an all around solid defensive lineman.

29-New York Giants-Zebrie Sanders-OT-Florida State
Eli Manning is still taking a beating behind that Giants’ line. Zebrie Sanders is a big tackle who can instantly increase the performance of the line. Sanders is good in both the pass game and the run game.

30-Baltimore Ravens-Vontaze Burfict-LB-Arizona State
We don’t know how many years Lewis has left, one, two, maybe more. This kid Burfict is the next Ray Lewis. The hard-hitting interior LB is fantastic and powerful. He might be a tad bit crazy but he is going to be a force as soon as he steps on an NFL field. Burfict started since his freshman year at Arizona State and he plays with a chip on his shoulder. The Ravens’ locker room will have a good influence on Burfict and they will make sure he succeeds.

31-San Francisco 49ers-Alshon Jeffery-WR-South Carolina
The Niners were a surprise team in 2011. With the release of Braylon Edwards and the inconsistency of Michael Crabtree, Jeffery fit the Niners’ offense. He’s a huge target at 6’4 and a great possession receiver. Jeffery goes up and over corners with ease and could be the red zone threat that San Fran has been looking for.

32-New England Patriots-Mohamed Sanu-WR-Rutgers
Deion Branch is a free agent along with Wes Welker. The Patriots are expected to bring back Welker for obvious reasons but they still lack a big WR who can be a big play threat. Sanu overpowers corners and is a great, route runner and he can catch even when he’s tightly covered.

Top Running Backs for 2012 NFL Draft

The running back position in the NFL has become an iffy situation in recent years. A few years back when players like Stephen Jackson and Ladanian Tomlinson were getting drafted you could depend on them to be: durable, catch, block, and carry the ball 20-25 times a game. Nowadays teams roll with 2 running backs and in an ideal situation they would like to have one power back for between the tackles and one elusive back that can receive and bust open big plays (Williams/Stewart, Ingram/Sproles, Green-Ellis/Woodhead). In the 2011 draft running backs seemed to take a back seat to lineman, defensive players and quarterbacks. The first running back (Mark Ingram) wasn’t selected until the 28th overall pick and there were only two running backs take  in the top 50 picks (Ryan Williams #38). This could have been a one year fluke where teams felt there weren’t quality running backs or it could be a recurring pattern for future drafts. The National Football League has become a pass-happy league and maybe now running backs slip in the draft till later rounds unless of course there is an old school running back that can carry the load and catch the pass. This years running back draft class is full of playmakers.

 1-Trent Richardson-Alabama
 Listed at 5”11 and made up of 224 pounds of pure muscle this kid is a freight train. Trent Richardson is just a freak of nature.  Coming from the same high school as the great Emmit Smith, Richardson can do a lot of the things Emmit could do like:  pickup the  blitz, run between the tackles and once he gets to the second level of the defense take it for six. You would think for a  power back  that he would have bricks for hands but you’re wrong. Last year Richardson had 4 receiving touchdowns. In 2009  and 2010  Richardson had 1,451 rushing yards which might not seem like much for a potential top 20 pick; but he was also the  backup to  Heisman winner Mark Ingram. Three games into the season Richardson already has 8 rushing touchdowns, which  matches his  career high. Between last year and the start of this year this one man wrecking crew has been going through the  SEC acquiring 6.3  yards per carry.

2-LaMichael James-Oregon
LaMichael James’ is definitely benefitting from the NFL shifting to a two-back multiple running back offense. Playing in Oregon’s high octane offense, James has learned how to; catch the ball, break off big runs, and has become durable enough to play every down. James had 1,500+ yards in both his freshman and sophomore seasons and is off to a fast start in his junior year with 772 yards (613 rush) and 8 total touchdowns in only four games. He has also recorded a punt return touchdown in this young 2011 season. One main question mark about James is durability, although he has been pretty healthy throughout his collegiate career he is only 5”9 and 185 pounds soaking wet. It makes you wonder if he can withstand the beating running backs take in the NFL. James will be drafted relatively high because he causes matchup nightmares with his blazing speed and his catching abilities from the running back position-he is a straight playmaker.


 3-Chris Polk-Washington
Chris Polk could be either just as good or better than his Pac-12 counterpart LaMichael James by  draft day 2012. Polk seems to   be  a better all around running back than James.  Even though Polk lacks the afterburner speed that James has he makes up for  hit  with a 5”11 222 lbs. frame. Polk is such a versatile back; he can run between the tackles,  run the outside sweep, go out for  screens,  make defenders miss and he isn’t afraid to lower the shoulder either. In his  sophomore season he had rushed for 1,415  yards and 9  scores. Polk also has excellent hands out of the backfield, he had 20+  receptions in each of the past 2 years. Polk  has that X-factor  attribute, when there is a big game he steps up and wont let you  down. In last years Holiday Bowl against  #18 Nebraska he put up  177 yards and a touchdown. Polk was named that game’s  MVP. Earlier in camp this season Polk had  suffered an injury and it  required arthroscopic knee surgery says he will be back to  full strength soon; he has played in all 3  games so far and has racked up  422 yards on 87 carries (4.9 average). Polk could be  one of the best value picks in the draft and  he will fit well into any system.

4-Kniles Davis-Arkansas
The SEC is arguably the toughest conference in college football year-in and year–out. So many defensive pro athletes come out of the SEC and it is where the best defensive units are located. Kniles Davis didn’t care about the previous two sentences; he ran all over the SEC last year. Davis led all SEC running backs in rushing yards with 1,322(Cam Newton led all rushers) and he also had 14 all-purpose touchdowns. Davis is a tall running back, listed at 6”1 but he is tough to get a hold of and once you get a hold of him he is tough to bring down. Davis is a smart runner and knows how to utilize his blocks, but even when the blocks aren’t there he has the moves and the speed to make plays on his own. Davis is in his Junior. year but he suffered a season ending ankle injury. He could still enter the draft if he wishes and he will be one of the highest draft running backs just off of his combine performance and pure talent.

5-Montel Harris– Boston College
 Harris could be the smartest running back in the draft. He lacks size and he is not the fastest so he has adapted and has learned how to become a  patient runner. Although Harris is small (5”10, 207 lbs.) he has been durable in the past. He’s a dependable back who carried the ball 308 times  in 2009 and recorded 14 touchdowns along with 1,457 yards. Harris kept up with those numbers in 2010 with 1,243 yards and 8 scores. Harris is  off to a slow start this year because he is recovering from knee surgery. Week 4 against UMASS Amherst was his first game where he saw action  (27 yards on nine attempts. Look for him to step up when the stage is the biggest. (@ #21Clemson Oct 8, @ #13 Virginia Tech Oct 22, @ #11  Florida State November 3^rd [ESPN])

Notable Mentions for 2012 Draft (2011 Statistics Through Week 4)

6-Cyrus Gray-Texas A&M
– 1,384 All-purpose yards in 2010
-81 Career receptions
-Great hands (81 Receptions)
-Homerun-type speed

7-Montee Ball-Wisconsin
-9 Touchdowns in 2011
-996 Rush yards in 2010 (128 Receiving)
-18 Rushing TD in 2010
-6.1 Yards per attempt in 2010
-Great all around talent, phenomenal balance between speed and power

8-Vick Ballard-Mississippi State
-7.0 Yards Per Carry
-20 All-purpose touchdowns in 2010
-5”11, 220 lbs
-Power back

9-Jeff Demps-Florida
-Excellent hands
-Has not had a 1,000 yards season
-Can make any defender miss when he has the ball
-Olympic sprinter-type
-NFL comparison- Reggie Bush

10-Bernard Pierce-Temple
-12 Touchdowns in 2011
-Averaging 6.3 yards per carry in 2011
-Patient runner, can make guys miss
-Not afraid to lay the lumber

Also Watch
David Wilson (Virginia Tech)
Christine Michael (Texas A&M)
Isaiah Pead (Cincinnati)
Daniel Herron (Ohio State)
Bobby Rainey (Eastern Kentucky)
Ed Wesley (TCU)